Homeless families living in a London tower block have begun to be moved out by their councils, after reports of the building’s air conditioning units being intentionally switched off.
Several children were rushed to hospital due to extreme heat after the incident, The Independent recently reported, with parents describing fainting and nosebleeds.
Around 60 families living in temporary accommodation in Britannia Point in Colliers Wood allegedly had their air conditioning disabled without warning during the recent heatwaves.
Residents were told that they had been “switched off” by the building’s reception, as they had “not been offered as an amenity” under the arrangements of their accommodation.
Responding to the issue, leaseholder Aura Assets Management said the air conditioning is “fully operational and tenants have been advised they are welcome to use it”.
Criterion Capital said: “As the freeholder, we engage with our leaseholders and encourage them to work with local authorities to support tenants in these unprecedented circumstances.”
But at least two London local authorities have now confirmed that they are working to move their residents out of the property following the episode.
Richmond and Wandsworth council have confirmed that they have relocated three of their residents, with a fourth and final placement being sought.
One of these residents is Sabrina Walters, 31, who told The Independent last week that her children were sweating and suffering nosebleeds after losing use of their air conditioning.
The mother-of-two said: “I picked [my one year-old] up from her chair after she had fallen asleep, and she was literally soaked. My 12-year-old was having constant cluster nosebleeds – she had between 10 and 20 within two or three days.”
Ms Walters has now been moved out of the property. While she was “relieved”, she said: “I don’t think it should have taken political intervention and public attention for action to be taken.
“I repeatedly raised concerns about the impact the heat was having on my family, but nothing changed until other people stepped in,” she said. “No tenant should have to fight this hard or rely on an MP and media attention just to have basic concerns taken seriously.
“I hope this serves as a reminder that landlords and managing agents should respond to legitimate complaints before they become public, not afterwards.”
A spokesperson for the London Borough of Sutton said it had already made the decision not to place any new residents in the building earlier this year, and is working to help those who remain find new accommodation.
“Following these latest reports, we will be making our concerns clear to Aura Asset Management that treating residents like this is unacceptable,” they added.
However, two councils also housing residents in the block – Croydon and Tower Hamlets – have said they will not be moving their residents out.
A spokesperson for Croydon Council said it had responded to concerns raised about the temperatures in Britannia Point during the heatwave, and that Criterion Capital had since confirmed its air conditioning system has been switched on.
They said: “Council officers have been carrying out welfare checks with Croydon residents to understand their circumstances and make sure that they are receiving the right support.
“We will continue to be in contact with the landlord to seek assurances that the appropriate checks are in place and our residents are being kept safe. We are not placing any new residents in the accommodation whilst we review the situation.
“Like many councils across London, we are facing very high demand for temporary accommodation and work with private landlords to provide homes for households who are homeless. We remain committed to making sure that all temporary accommodation is safe and meets the expected standards.”
A spokesperson for Tower Hamlets Council confirmed they use a “small number” of temporary accommodation units at Britannia Point to house residents who would otherwise be at risk of homelessness.
They said: “Following enquiries with the managing agent, we have been advised that the air conditioning system at Britannia Point is now fully operational and available to all residents across the building. We understand there have been intermittent issues with the system since April 2026 and that a specialist contractor has now attended and resolved the reported fault. The management agent has also written to all residents to provide an update and ask that any further issues are reported immediately.
“We expect all accommodation providers and managing agents we work with to maintain properties to an appropriate standard and to respond quickly when concerns are raised. We will continue to monitor the situation closely and seek ongoing assurances that residents have access to suitable living conditions, particularly during periods of hot weather.”
The spokesperson added that Britannia Point is not their “preferred option for future placements” given the concerns raised, however Tower Hamlets currently has around 3,200 households living in temporary accommodation.
They are therefore facing “significant pressures from rising homelessness and a shortage of suitable temporary housing”.
They said: “We have a statutory duty to secure accommodation for eligible households and therefore must continue to consider all suitable accommodation available to us.”
Stuart Neaverson, Merton councillor, said: “Councils should have only one reaction when three children have been hospitalised due to dangerous temperatures: move all their residents out of the building immediately.
“While Wandsworth and Richmond have finally acted, it is shocking that councils like Croydon and Tower Hamlets continue to house residents in Criterion Capital buildings.
“Deliberately turning off essential air conditioning for residents during a heatwave should immediately rule you out as a landlord that councils are willing to house families with.
“Every council housing residents in Britannia Point should immediately move them out, as well as review their relationships with Criterion Capital and all associated companies. It shouldn’t be a postcode lottery whether your council protects you from unsafe accommodation.”
