Streatham residents voice concerns over property in Lambeth

Streatham residents voice concerns over property in Lambeth
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Lambeth (Parliament Politics Magazine) – Local residents in Streatham, Lambeth, express concerns about a property attended by the fire brigade earlier this year, citing neighborhood impact.

The facility is held by Dellhome Ltd., a business that developer Iqbal Ali Khan uses to lease short-term space to different London authorities.

According to a recent investigation by Private Eye, Lambeth has donated nearly £4 million to businesses owned by Iqbal Ali Khan, even though the landlord has a history of unlawfully turning a house into apartments without obtaining planning permission.

In May,

“Ten fire engines and around 70 firefighters tackled a fire at a house on Woodbourne Avenue in Streatham,

according to the London Fire Brigade. Residents are now concerned that the repair work to the building is being done in an unsafe way.

One local resident told Brixton Buzz:

“No scaffolding, hard hat workers or secured materials. What are Lambeth Council building control doing about it? Not much apparently. It’s a hazard if it gets windy.”

Khan presents himself as a “Lord” on Companies House and in his home country of India, where he is a prominent businessman with several hotels in Hyderabad. He is the beneficial owner of two businesses: Cyberstyle Lettings Limited (£1,939,084.50 from Lambeth) and Dellhome Limited (£2,048,133.98 in payments from Lambeth council since 2019).

Khan received a punishment in 2014 “for turning a property into apartments without permission.” After an appeal was denied at the Old Bailey, the defendant was forced to pay the council’s costs, which totaled over £17,000.

After losing an appeal, Khan was once more denied planning approval in 2020 to convert a building he owns from a nursery into housing. 

Khan received approval in 2021 to construct a roof addition on a different property located at 77 Woodbourne Avenue. Khan built a third level on the building, which was then meant to be concealed, in violation of the planning order, according to papers from the planning enforcement agency.

The extension was later approved on the grounds that

“full planning consent would be required if, at any time, circumstances were to change so as to constitute a material change of use, and the property is in use as a single dwellinghouse, and on the information supplied with this application only.”

According to local council members, this property is currently being used as an HMO for people living in temporary housing.

The planning enforcement Officer Report related to 77 Woodbourne Avenue notes that:

“An Enforcement Notice was served in 2009 with regard to the unauthorised change of use of the property to 3 self-contained flats and the erection of a full width single storey rear extension.” 

Regarding the same property at 77 Woodbourne Avenue, Khan also lost a planning appeal in November 2024.

“Remove the unauthorised roof extension from the rear roof slope of the premises and reinstate the roof as existed prior to the breach of planning control,”

the landlord was ordered to do by the ruling.

One resident who lives near the house on Woodbourne Avenue, which caught fire in May, said they had repeated problems related to the poor management of Khan’s property. Another local resident reported similar unsafe conditions at another of Khan’s properties on Becmead Avenue nearby. One neighbour reported that a sewage leak from the property had spread to their garden. 

Lambeth Council refused to address specific queries about the properties, saying:

“The extreme shortage of social housing in the borough means we depend on a supply of TA to house all the people who come to us in housing need. All temporary accommodation is selected on the basis of availability, quality, and cost. These are the criteria when it comes to dealing with this very real and pressing crisis.”

From this evidence, it would seem that Lambeth is far more concerned about cost than quality.

The Lambeth Press Office spokesperson added that

“On the property you mention, I have asked, again, whether there have been any developments we are able to report. But, in the meantime, it should at least be made clear that this accommodation was not being used by Lambeth Council to house residents.”

It’s clear, however, that Lambeth has been paying Mr Khan’s companies for the use of other properties.

Cllr Nicole Griffiths, who represents the local Streatham St Leonard’s ward, told Brixton Buzz:

“Local councillors are very aware of what’s going on with these properties and are working closely with the Council to ensure that each property is properly renovated to meet current building control and HMO licensing regulations. Lambeth has stopped placing temporary accommodation tenants in these properties; it’s imperative that other councils do the same until the properties are deemed fit for habitation”.

The fact that homeless people in different London boroughs are being compelled to live in similar, blatantly housing, which puts them in threat, is really concerning. There’s a genuine chance that another Grenfell Tower fire may occur if nothing is done to discourage landlords from keeping the homeless in dangerous conditions. 

Their emails and approaches to Iqbal Ali Khan’s workers in his homes have gone unanswered, despite their patient attempts to get in touch with him for feedback, including furnishing him with their contact information. 

Has the B&B been issued any safety or closure notices since the fire?

There’s no public record or sanctioned statement as of October 23, 2025, indicating that the affected B&B in Streatham has been issued a formal safety or check notice since the fire in May 2025. 

In England, following a fire in a guest accommodation property like a B&B, other original authorities or the Fire & Rescue Service generally conduct a post-incident inspection. However, they may issue an enforcement,  insufficiency, if significant threats to safety remain. 

This would bear remedial action or, if demanded, a formal check until the property complies with safety norms. Still, public access records and available guidance don’t show evidence of similar action for this specific address.