Hundreds of residents in a tower block in Colliers Wood have reportedly been reassured they will not be moved out of their homes in what was described by campaigners as “one of the worst mass evictions in our capital’s recent history”.

Residents of Britannia Point say that representatives of Criterion Capital told them on Monday (February 23) that their supposed “mass eviction” was nothing but “rumours”, though without having anything in writing, they fear they are still at risk. Criterion has not responded to a request for comment from the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS).

Fears over the supposed mass eviction were reported over the weekend after private tenants told London Centric that they had been given two months’ notice and, in some cases, were encouraged to leave even sooner. Many told the publication they had received ‘no-fault’ eviction notices through their doors, despite being up to date with their rent or having kept their properties in good condition.

The 19-storey tower block is owned by Criterion Capital, one of the companies controlled by billionaire landlord Asif Aziz. He also owns a large property portfolio in the West End, as well as other tower blocks such as Delta Point and Canterbury House in Croydon.

Sir Sadiq Khan weighed in, branding the supposed move “completely unacceptable”. His deputy for housing, Tom Copley, also wrote to Aziz urging him to rethink the evictions before the new protections under the Renters’ Rights Act come into force, which will ban Section 21 ‘no fault’ evictions from May.

Colliers Wood Station, High Street. Credit: Tara O’Connor.

Mr Copley said: “To evict tenants shortly before the implementation of the Act would be a short-sighted and cynical attempt to bypass the rules and show a disregard for the very spirit of this much-needed legislation.”

Following days of backlash, residents said Criterion representatives told them in person on Monday that the eviction “rumours” were a misunderstanding.

Although some see it as a victory, Labour councillor for Colliers Wood, Stuart Neaverson, believes key questions remain unanswered. He told the LDRS: “Criterion still haven’t said anything publicly, and they need to put this in writing to the residents. The two-month ticking clock on that Section 21 notice still stands and needs to be removed.”

The Labour team representing Colliers Wood — Mitcham and Morden MP Siobhain McDonagh, Caroline Cooper-Marbiah, Stuart Neaverson, and Joanna Sieradzinska — sent Asif Aziz a letter on Wednesday (February 25), welcoming the verbal confirmation that eviction plans had been reversed but urging him to provide written proof that the notices have been formally withdrawn.

The letter states: “There has been no further communication from Criterion, nor clarity to all residents on next steps.”

Colliers Wood’s Labour Councillors and Mitcham and Morden MP Dame Siobhain McDonagh (right) outside Britannia Point Credit: Merton Labour

It also raised concerns over “conflicting messages” coming from Criterion, citing an example of a resident who called its head office seeking an extension, only to be told the Section 21 notice would not be withdrawn.

They added that several residents had received no communication from Criterion — either because they were out during door-to-door visits by staff informing tenants of the change, or because no follow-up was made.

Temporary accommodation

London Centric also reported that the owners have plans to replace the evicted tenants with more profitable temporary accommodation tenants funded by local councils, just before the new protections under the Renters’ Rights Act come into force. The LDRS understands that six London councils currently use the building for temporary accommodation. These are:

Croydon
Sutton
Kingston
Wandsworth
Hammersmith and Fulham
Tower Hamlets

Cllr Neaverson told the LDRS that Merton Council was aware of these boroughs using the building for temporary accommodation, but did not know the “scale” in which they were being used.

These events, alongside past dealings with Criterion, have reportedly left Merton’s Labour Council distrustful of the company. “Merton has not, and never will, use this man’s properties,” Cllr Neaverson told the LDRS.

Plans for 16-storey tower block

Last year, the LDRS revealed that Merton Council said it was still owed £3m by Criterion Capital after carrying out emergency safety works at Britannia Point, after a window pane fell from the 12th floor of the tower on June 27, 2022. At the time, Cllr Neaverson told the LDRS: “This easily could have killed someone if they were walking past at that moment in time.”

Criterion Capital still plans to build three new blocks of up to 16 storeys on the land it owns behind the tower. The revised scheme includes a 16-storey aparthotel, a 14-storey co-living building, and a seven-storey private rented block arranged around a central green space.

Criterion says it consulted residents on the new proposal in July last year, but the plans have yet to go before the planning committee. The plans replace an earlier application rejected by Merton Council in 2024, which would have seen 26-storey towers built behind Britannia Point.