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.
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.
Couldn't agree more - Sadiq Khan is the closest thing we have in the UK to the archetypal cookie cutter American Democrat who has run their party into the ground and gifted Trump his 2nd term. Poor communicator, little creativity or vision, acts more in the interest of progressive orthodoxy (e.g. 'Asif Aziz is a fantastic philantropist and a celebration of London's diversity and internationalism' when he is one of the most horrendous billionairs london has ever seen) than progressive governance and hasn't really improved the urban area he is in charge of.
Unfortunately this has largely been ignored because most of his criticisms are either racist, banal, disconnected with reality or a combination of all 3. And his only competition last election was Susan Hall...
I don't. Sadiq Khan and his ilk fuel resentment that quickly leads to racism and xenophobia. He is aligned with the oligarchs and not the working classes.
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….
An AST is the current standard tenancy agreement, and will, under the Renters Rights Act, be automatically converted into an section 4A Assured Tenancy which will be the new standard tenancy agreement type. As I understand it, those tenancy agreements are not yet possible because they require the government to issue guidance as to specific clauses to be included, so I think they cannot be blamed for that.
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…)
Aziz has a strong claim to being the main villain of London Centric’s work. I had never heard of him or Criterion before you launched, but it seems like half the dodgy dealings in the city are connected to this guy. Major credit to you for bringing all of this to light.
Interesting question....I imagine there's no legal basis for them to win, but it would mean that they'd delay the end of tenancy until after the Renters' Right Act came into force. So even if they lost, would Criteron Capital then not be allowed to evict them under the new Act?
Unfortunately, a section 21 eviction notice issued before 1 May remains valid even under the RRA (the operative legislation is Part 1 of Schedule 6 of the RRA).
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.
I live very close to one of these buildings (Delta Point), which has another that the same owners bought nearby - the old Home Office buildings in Croydon, Apollo and Lunar House. There were plans for a big project to convert the interior into flats and develop the large surrounding car parks into green space, with children's playgrounds and a pedestrianised route parallel to Wellesley Rd, as well as a new, higher end tower. I fear that the new owners they may not bother, and this part of our city will remain a grey, empty car park, with poor quality flats in a barely converted building. As residents, there is no real opportunity to object as it has Permitted Development permission. Hearing that it'll probably be temporary accommodation all but confirms the rest of the work won't happen, I think. We should want better quality public spaces than these office conversions provide, they need more work to be decent homes.
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. Hundreds of lives about to be upturned; where will they all go?! And all the small miseries to come from a cruel, unfeeling man/system
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.
Definitely needs forwarding to the mayors press office
Have you contacted them? Or do you want someone else to do it?
Have you contacted them? Or do you want someone else to do it?
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 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.
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.
Couldn't agree more - Sadiq Khan is the closest thing we have in the UK to the archetypal cookie cutter American Democrat who has run their party into the ground and gifted Trump his 2nd term. Poor communicator, little creativity or vision, acts more in the interest of progressive orthodoxy (e.g. 'Asif Aziz is a fantastic philantropist and a celebration of London's diversity and internationalism' when he is one of the most horrendous billionairs london has ever seen) than progressive governance and hasn't really improved the urban area he is in charge of.
Unfortunately this has largely been ignored because most of his criticisms are either racist, banal, disconnected with reality or a combination of all 3. And his only competition last election was Susan Hall...
Maybe the ‘far right’ have a point about the man and his internationalist ilk
I agree, it's hard to defend him on this and come on now, he certainly knows all about it.
I hope Sadiq isn't a candidate in the next mayoral election.
I don't. Sadiq Khan and his ilk fuel resentment that quickly leads to racism and xenophobia. He is aligned with the oligarchs and not the working classes.
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….
An AST is the current standard tenancy agreement, and will, under the Renters Rights Act, be automatically converted into an section 4A Assured Tenancy which will be the new standard tenancy agreement type. As I understand it, those tenancy agreements are not yet possible because they require the government to issue guidance as to specific clauses to be included, so I think they cannot be blamed for that.
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…)
Aziz has a strong claim to being the main villain of London Centric’s work. I had never heard of him or Criterion before you launched, but it seems like half the dodgy dealings in the city are connected to this guy. Major credit to you for bringing all of this to light.
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.
Interesting question....I imagine there's no legal basis for them to win, but it would mean that they'd delay the end of tenancy until after the Renters' Right Act came into force. So even if they lost, would Criteron Capital then not be allowed to evict them under the new Act?
I'm not sure tbh, but quite like the idea of the courts being filled up with all the tenants protesting!
Unfortunately, a section 21 eviction notice issued before 1 May remains valid even under the RRA (the operative legislation is Part 1 of Schedule 6 of the RRA).
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.
Parasitic capitalism. Its never enough for some.
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.
I live very close to one of these buildings (Delta Point), which has another that the same owners bought nearby - the old Home Office buildings in Croydon, Apollo and Lunar House. There were plans for a big project to convert the interior into flats and develop the large surrounding car parks into green space, with children's playgrounds and a pedestrianised route parallel to Wellesley Rd, as well as a new, higher end tower. I fear that the new owners they may not bother, and this part of our city will remain a grey, empty car park, with poor quality flats in a barely converted building. As residents, there is no real opportunity to object as it has Permitted Development permission. Hearing that it'll probably be temporary accommodation all but confirms the rest of the work won't happen, I think. We should want better quality public spaces than these office conversions provide, they need more work to be decent homes.
These are the people who truly rule our lives. They are untouchable, and there is nothing we can do.
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. Hundreds of lives about to be upturned; where will they all go?! And all the small miseries to come from a cruel, unfeeling man/system