Wandsworth council is moving families out of Britannia Point after residents were told they could not freely use the building’s air conditioning during heatwaves. The 19-storey tower in Colliers Wood has been used for temporary accommodation, and the change follows a dispute that left some families paying monthly charges or living with units that did not work properly.
Benice Bodah, who has lived there with her three teenage sons for almost three years, said the built-in air-conditioning in her two-bedroom flat had worked only intermittently. On Wednesday evening, she said it was working, but she could not afford to keep it switched on. “It has not been easy, but what can we do?”
Brittania Point and Wandsworth council
Britannia Point is owned by Criterion Capital, which was set up by the billionaire property magnate Asif Aziz. Temporary tenancies in the building can last from weeks to years, and the units are managed separately by letting agencies including Aura Assets Management. Wandsworth council said it was making immediate plans to remove its tenants from the tower.
The council’s 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 had already stopped placing people in the building. Croydon council said it was not removing people but had raised concerns with Criterion and had council staff carrying out welfare checks.
Air-conditioning charges at Britannia Point
Some tenants received letters saying they could use the air conditioning if it was working, but it would cost between £35 and £50 each month. Several temporary residents with tenancies managed by Aura said repeated complaints over inoperative air-conditioning units had been left unresolved for more than a year. One tenant living with his 81-year-old mother said he had given up on the unit after the issue was not resolved last summer.
Stuart Neaverson, a Labour councillor in Merton, 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.” Criterion Capital responded: “As the freeholder, we engage with our leaseholders and encourage them to work with local authorities to support tenants in these unprecedented circumstances.”
Families in temporary accommodation
The dispute landed during the UK’s fourth heatwave of the year, when temperatures reached 35C. For families in temporary accommodation, the practical issue now is whether they will be moved, and where they will go next. Wandsworth has started that process; Sutton has already stopped using the tower; and Croydon is keeping residents in place while welfare checks continue.
