Several London councils have agreed to stop housing families in emergency accommodation at Britannia Point, a glass-fronted tower in Colliers Wood owned by billionaire Asif Aziz's Criterion Capital, after it was revealed tenants were told they could not use air conditioning during heatwaves. The decision follows a Guardian report that temporary tenants were prohibited from using in-built air conditioning units, with some told it had "not been offered as an amenity."
Immediate plans to relocate tenants
Wandsworth council, which has placed residents in the block, is making "immediate" plans to remove its tenants. A Wandsworth council spokesperson said: "As ever, the welfare of residents is our priority and we are working at pace to ensure suitable alternative accommodation is available." Sutton council said it had already stopped placing people there and was "working closely with all remaining Sutton residents in the building to ensure they are able to move to other accommodation." Croydon council, facing high demand for temporary accommodation, is not removing people but has raised concerns with Criterion and is conducting welfare checks.
Tenants suffer without working air conditioning
Benice Bodah, 48, who lives with her three teenage sons in a two-bedroom flat, said the built-in air conditioning unit has worked only intermittently in nearly three years. "It has not been easy, but what can we do?" she said. By Wednesday evening, the unit was working, but she could not afford the extra £35 to £50 monthly cost to run it. Another tenant, Sabrina Walters, 31, fears for her children's health. Her one-year-old daughter was overheating and her 12-year-old suffered cluster nose bleeds, which can be caused by overheating. "I'm not fussed about myself, but when it comes to my child's health... she didn't ask to be over-dehydrated," Walters said.
Councillors call for action
Stuart Neaverson, a Labour councillor in Merton who has been assisting residents, said: "Criterion Capital, who own the building and the air conditioning units, need to explain how this could ever happen and why some residents are still going without while temperatures hit 35C." A spokesperson for Criterion Capital said: "As the freeholder, we engage with our leaseholders and encourage them to work with local authorities to support tenants in these unprecedented circumstances." Aura Assets Management, which manages the tenancies, has been approached for comment.
Unresolved complaints and unaffordable charges
Several temporary residents told the Guardian that repeated complaints about inoperative air conditioning units had been left unresolved, in some cases for more than a year. One tenant living with his 81-year-old mother gave up on the unit after last summer's issues and relies on fans and blinds. After the Guardian's report, some tenants received letters saying they should "feel free to use" the air conditioning if working, at a cost of £35 to £50 per month, but some still have broken units or find the charge unaffordable. Earlier this year, Criterion Capital was accused of trying to mass evict tenants before the banning of no-fault evictions, which it denied. Aura previously said the air conditioning was "fully operational" and that the email restricting access was based on "information and operational arrangements in place at the time."
