Key facts
- Families in temporary accommodation in London are struggling with high temperatures due to issues with air conditioning units.
- Britannia Point, a building owned by Criterion Capital, has had intermittently working air conditioning for nearly three years.
- Residents were initially informed they could not use the built-in air conditioning, with some now being charged an additional fee to use it.
- Several London councils, including Wandsworth and Sutton, are relocating their tenants from the building.
- Concerns have been raised about the health impacts of the heat on children, including dehydration and nosebleeds.
Families residing in temporary accommodation in London are facing significant discomfort and health concerns due to malfunctioning or restricted use of air conditioning units during a heatwave. Benice Bodah, a resident at Britannia Point in south-west London, described the difficulty of enduring scorching temperatures in her two-bedroom flat, which has had an unreliable built-in air conditioning unit for nearly three years.
Several local councils, including Wandsworth and Sutton, have announced plans to move their tenants out of Britannia Point following revelations that residents were initially told they could not use the air conditioning, as it was not considered an amenity for temporary residents. Criterion Capital, the owner of the building, has stated they engage with leaseholders to support tenants. Aura Assets Management, a letting agency involved, previously stated the air conditioning was operational, attributing earlier restrictions to building management's information at the time.
Some residents have since been informed they can use the air conditioning for an additional monthly fee of £35 to £50, but many still face non-working units or find the cost prohibitive. Mahad Maalin, living with his elderly mother, has resorted to using fans and drawing blinds due to unresolved issues from the previous summer. Sabrina Walters expressed distress over her young daughter's overheating and cluster nosebleeds, attributing them to the heat. Walters noted that her own unit was only restored after contacting her local MP, and she felt hesitant to share this with other residents whose units remained broken.
Councillor Stuart Neaverson has called on the building's owners to explain the situation and ensure residents have access to working units during the extreme weather. Wandsworth council stated that resident welfare is a priority and they are working to find suitable alternative accommodation. Sutton council has ceased new placements and is assisting current residents with relocation, while Croydon council has raised concerns with the property owner and is conducting welfare checks.