Westminster Council blunder leads to family eviction

Annas Jawamir and his family were evicted from their Marylebone home on August 27, moving into temporary accommodation in Willesden. The eviction followed a Westminster City Council blunder concerning the sale of Gem House, a property where residents faced dramatic rent increases.

Social housing tenants who had been paying around £795 per month for their flats at Gem House in Chiltern Street were informed of an increase to £6,850 per month by the new landlord. This eightfold rent hike meant residents had to either pay the new rate or leave their homes. Annas Jawamir, who lived in a three-bedroom flat with his mother and sister, described the situation as 'complete chaos' and 'humiliating', particularly as his mother was due for a hip operation.

Council's Legal Challenge Fails

The property, comprising 16 flats, was sold to Gem House Limited after the previous social housing provider, Kinsman, went bankrupt in 2023. The lender, which took control of the block, sold it for £12.6 million. Westminster City Council had initially required all 16 flats to remain as affordable accommodation when Gem House was built in the 2010s. The council launched a legal claim to prevent the new landlord from converting the social homes to private rentals, but this action was rejected by the Court of Appeal earlier this month. This ruling allows the new landlord to charge significantly higher rents.

Councillor Concia Albert, Labour's Shadow Cabinet Member for Housing Services, stated that residents were placed in these flats by Westminster Council with the understanding they were affordable homes. She called on Westminster Conservatives to take responsibility and ensure all affected residents were rehoused promptly and securely within the borough.

In response, a spokesperson for Westminster City Council acknowledged the situation was unsettling for residents. The council stated it had commenced legal action against the landlord in 2024 to challenge the decision to abandon the original Section 106 agreement. The spokesperson added that the council is working with affected households and providing advice and support regarding their housing options, while noting the significant demand for affordable homes with over 6,500 households on the housing register.