Overview

• More than 100 Chagossians arrived in Hillingdon within a week following May’s sovereignty transfer, contributing to around 400 total arrivals since July 2024
• Hillingdon Council reports spending over £500,000 on temporary housing, administrative support and essentials up to March 2025 and anticipates annual costs could soar to £1.2 million
• Chagossians hold British passports but are ineligible for refugee or asylum assistance, forcing them to rely on local authority services for accommodation and benefits
• Central government funding currently covers only the first ten days of support per arrival, leaving Hillingdon to absorb longer-term housing and welfare expenses
• Council leaders have formally urged Westminster for extended funding to alleviate taxpayer strain, while the housing ministry says it provides immediate relief and guidance for arrivals to arrange their own accommodation