He's the London philanthropist who says he's committed to solving homelessness. So why is Asif Aziz's Criterion Capital rushing to make hundreds of Londoners homeless in the coming weeks?
Thank you for highlighting this important and shocking story of greed and cruelty by the Criterion Capital company and the Aziz family. It's hard to believe the Mayor was unaware of the Aziz family's activities. If he was, his advisors and PR team don't have their ears very close to the ground.
My local MP happens to be Matthew Pennycook, the housing minister, so I will forward the story to him.
Surprised that councils wouldn’t need to approve a change in planning permission for a change in use to temporary accommodation - depressing that there seem to be so many loopholes in legislation that people* use to act in such disturbing ways (* plenty of more colourful phrases could be used…)
I always try to defend Sadiq Khan as he’s so hated by racists and the far-right - but this is indefensible. I also want to know what he’s got to say and what he intends to do. He certainly should not be taking PR gifts from Aziz - at the very least.
Seems like landlords all over the capital are squeezing tennants before the renters rights come into play.
Parkhaus a building of 72 flats in Hackney, E5 also issue mass section 21 notices days before Christmas. They are putting all new renters on assured short hold tenancies (ASTs) which have much fewer rights.
They are run by Citidwell, who runs at least 3 other buildings of flats. But the freeholder and the person who financed the build is rumoured to also be in the UAE.
Similar story - shocking failure of water for over 24 hours to the building multiple times, elevator failure, etc. Granted, at scale, Aziz makes Citidwell look like amateurs….
Firstly, the approved plans include flats at social rents, but if Aziz is pivoting from being a private landlord to providing temporary accommodation only, what does that mean for this plan?
Secondly, much as I love Camberwell - it's my home - it is a strange place for a hotel. Not central London, not near a tube. I can't help but wonder if the underlying plan is for the hotel to be part of the lucrative temporary accommodation system, too.
Absolutely awful behaviour and outcomes. Hopefully the current govt reforms will be the start of the incremental changes necessary to get rid of these corporate landlords.
In the mean time, local and central govt should be clear that such action is unacceptable. Where the landlords use the law to punish innocent renters, the authorities should do the same to the landlords. Fail them on fit and proper tests, refuse planning changes, fine them for every possible infarction of every minor health, safety and certification breach, flood them with legal notices requiring compliance.... basically anything that makes it clear that their behaviour is anathema to decent people.
Brilliant article, well written, clearly spelling out the horror. Hundred of lives about to be upturned; where will they all go?! And all the small miseries to come from a cruel, unfeeling man/system
This is outrageous. The rental act due to come into force in May is already causing lots of good landlords like us to sell their properties because it makes it too difficult to evict bad tenants who rent our 2 flats....as a general rule we have had no problems with tenants but this law is making the tenant landlord agreement weighted in favour of tenants. The result is going to be even fewer properties to rent than before and more people made homeless. Why should we carry on?
Its just too stressful for us and as a result we will be selling our two buytolets as and when they become vacant.
Any comment from the Mayor’s Office? Given the widespread nature, it would seem that a coordinated response is needed
I look forward to hearing the Mayor's response to this situation. Thank you London centric for your excellent reporting once again.
Have you contacted them? Or do you want someone else to do it?
Definitely needs forwarding to the mayors press office
Have you contacted them? Or do you want someone else to do it?
Great article - thank you. He / the group are truly awful - YMCA / Trocadero etc.
He - and people of his ilk - see the UK solely as an economic zone; happily destroying years of history to chase a yield.
Thank you for highlighting this important and shocking story of greed and cruelty by the Criterion Capital company and the Aziz family. It's hard to believe the Mayor was unaware of the Aziz family's activities. If he was, his advisors and PR team don't have their ears very close to the ground.
My local MP happens to be Matthew Pennycook, the housing minister, so I will forward the story to him.
Great reporting. I hope all the tenants refuse to vacate, and force Criterion to take this to the courts. The Mayor should be ashamed of himself.
Surprised that councils wouldn’t need to approve a change in planning permission for a change in use to temporary accommodation - depressing that there seem to be so many loopholes in legislation that people* use to act in such disturbing ways (* plenty of more colourful phrases could be used…)
Parasitic capitalism. Its never enough for some.
I always try to defend Sadiq Khan as he’s so hated by racists and the far-right - but this is indefensible. I also want to know what he’s got to say and what he intends to do. He certainly should not be taking PR gifts from Aziz - at the very least.
Maybe the ‘far right’ have a point about the man and his internationalist ilk
Seems like landlords all over the capital are squeezing tennants before the renters rights come into play.
Parkhaus a building of 72 flats in Hackney, E5 also issue mass section 21 notices days before Christmas. They are putting all new renters on assured short hold tenancies (ASTs) which have much fewer rights.
They are run by Citidwell, who runs at least 3 other buildings of flats. But the freeholder and the person who financed the build is rumoured to also be in the UAE.
Similar story - shocking failure of water for over 24 hours to the building multiple times, elevator failure, etc. Granted, at scale, Aziz makes Citidwell look like amateurs….
The detail about a cockroach being suctioned out of a tenant’s ear is something that I really wish I could unlearn! Pure hell. Heart goes out to them.
Great work. Well done.
I'm intrigued by which I mean worried about what the real drive is for the new Zedwell hotel planned in Camberwell, on the site of the old and currently derelict magistrates' court. Link here: https://southwarknews.co.uk/area/camberwell/magistrates-court-to-be-turn-into-hotel-where-most-rooms-have-no-windows/
Firstly, the approved plans include flats at social rents, but if Aziz is pivoting from being a private landlord to providing temporary accommodation only, what does that mean for this plan?
Secondly, much as I love Camberwell - it's my home - it is a strange place for a hotel. Not central London, not near a tube. I can't help but wonder if the underlying plan is for the hotel to be part of the lucrative temporary accommodation system, too.
These are the people who truly rule our lives. They are untouchable, and there is nothing we can do.
Sadiq Khan not addressing this publicly would be a massive dereliction of duty.
Please let us know when you find out what/if the Mayor is planning to do about this.
Much as people complain about the Renters' Rights Act, at least it sounds like future tenants will be protected from this sort of abhorrent landlord.
Have you contacted the Mayor yourself? Or do you want someone else to do it?
Absolutely awful behaviour and outcomes. Hopefully the current govt reforms will be the start of the incremental changes necessary to get rid of these corporate landlords.
In the mean time, local and central govt should be clear that such action is unacceptable. Where the landlords use the law to punish innocent renters, the authorities should do the same to the landlords. Fail them on fit and proper tests, refuse planning changes, fine them for every possible infarction of every minor health, safety and certification breach, flood them with legal notices requiring compliance.... basically anything that makes it clear that their behaviour is anathema to decent people.
Brilliant article, well written, clearly spelling out the horror. Hundred of lives about to be upturned; where will they all go?! And all the small miseries to come from a cruel, unfeeling man/system
This is outrageous. The rental act due to come into force in May is already causing lots of good landlords like us to sell their properties because it makes it too difficult to evict bad tenants who rent our 2 flats....as a general rule we have had no problems with tenants but this law is making the tenant landlord agreement weighted in favour of tenants. The result is going to be even fewer properties to rent than before and more people made homeless. Why should we carry on?
Its just too stressful for us and as a result we will be selling our two buytolets as and when they become vacant.
Good. Maybe you're not actually a good landlord if you lack the capital to spread your risks.