Lewisham Kanli Mews: 8 Illegal Homes Face Demolition (Lewisham 2026)

Key Points

• Eight terraced properties in Kanli Mews, Lewisham, south London, were built illegally by Eden Park Property Ltd on a site approved only for storage units in 2009.
• Lewisham Council issued an enforcement notice in 2021, upheld by planning inspector Timothy King in 2026, deeming the homes substandard with poor accommodation standards and harm to the area.
• Tenants, unaware of the illegal status, paid over £1,050 monthly rent; three families remain, facing eviction.
• Tenant Magbule Selyahtinova, 50, Turkish, has lived there five years with her husband on Universal Credit; struggles to find new housing as landlords reject benefit claimants.
• Developer co-director Husayin Kanli claimed no tenants live there but ended call when contradicted.
• Site bought in 2018, named after co-directors Husayin, Koray, and Sanel Kanli; now on market requiring demolition for warehouses; new application for five homes pending.

Lewisham (South London News) April 23, 2026 –In Lewisham, south London, Eden Park Property Ltd faces a council order to demolish eight illegally constructed terraced homes at Kanli Mews, leaving remaining tenants at risk of homelessness.

The narrow plot behind shops received planning permission in 2009 solely for demolishing garages and building eight storage units, but the developer erected two-storey houses instead after purchasing the site in 2018.

What Led Lewisham Council to Order Demolition of Kanli Mews?

Lewisham Council declared the properties substandard following an enforcement notice issued in 2021.

Eden Park Properties appealed in 2023, but independent planning inspector Timothy King upheld the order recently, ruling the 50-square-metre homes offered a “poor standard of accommodation” and an “unacceptable form of development” due to lack of outdoor space, unsuitability for habitation, and harm to the surrounding area’s character.

As reported by James Saunders of GB News, the council originally permitted garages to become storage units in 2009, but the firm built rental housing without consent.

The company describes itself on its website as “a small family business” focused on having “time for our tenants,” specialising in residential and commercial lettings in London.

How Are Tenants Like Magbule Selyahtinova Affected by the Demolition Order?

Magbule Selyahtinova, a 50-year-old Turkish tenant, has resided at Kanli Mews for about five years, unaware the homes were illegal.

She told the Daily Mail:

“I’m stressed because I have nowhere to go. We’re stuck in limbo. Where will we go?”

Mrs Selyahtinova added:

“We have so much luggage, so many things here, we’re under a lot of stress, and basically nobody will rent to us. We went to the council and we’re waiting, we don’t have an answer there either.”

As reported by the Daily Mail, she explained:

“Nobody is pressuring me right now, but this thing is hanging over us, because today, tomorrow, whenever it is, we have to move out.”

Her daughter and other tenants have already moved after learning of the demolition, leaving three families, including hers and her husband on Universal Credit.

Mrs Selyahtinova stated:

“We’re looking for a rental, but nobody will rent to us. That’s why we can’t move out. My back hurts, I can’t work, my husband can’t work, and since we’re on Universal Credit nobody will give us a house.”

She continued:

“I don’t know when I have to move out, because there’s nowhere for me to go. When they tell me to go, I’ll go. Most people moved out. My daughter was here too and she moved, most people moved. We can’t find any. They won’t lease to us because we’re getting help, and nobody will rent to us like that.”

James Saunders of GB News reported her saying:

“We’re looking for a rental, but nobody will rent to us. That’s why we can’t move out.”

Tenants paid upwards of £1,050 a month for the cramped properties.

What Did Developer Husayin Kanli Say About Tenants at Kanli Mews?

Eden Park Property Ltd named the development Kanli Mews after co-directors Husayin, Koray, and Sanel Kanli.

When confronted by GB News, co-director Husayin Kanli claimed:

“There’s no issue at all. There’s no-one living there.”

Upon being informed tenants remained, Mr Kanli hung up the phone.

The firm, registered in 2016 at First Floor, 251 Bromley Road, London SE6 2RA, engages in buying/selling real estate and letting/operating properties.

What Happens Next for the Kanli Mews Site After Demolition?

The enforcement requires demolition or rebuilding as warehouses/light industrial units.

Sales particulars list the site without a guide price, noting demolition needed before commercial redevelopment.

Eden Park submitted a new planning application last year to convert the terrace into five residential properties; Lewisham Council has not decided.

Shvarz News reported the council ordered demolition, leaving tenants like Mrs Selyahtinova facing eviction.

This case highlights enforcement against unauthorised developments in south London amid housing pressures.

Lewisham reports 2,450 households in temporary accommodation, about 1.8% of households.

Background of the Kanli Mews Development

Lewisham Council granted permission in 2009 to demolish existing garages and construct eight storage units on the plot behind shops.

Eden Park Property Ltd acquired the site in 2018 and converted it into eight two-storey terraced houses without updated approval.

The company rented them out, leading to the 2021 enforcement notice after discovery.

The 2023 appeal failed when Inspector Timothy King confirmed the homes’ substandard nature in his recent ruling.

This follows the firm’s pattern in property management, as per its Companies House filing since 2016.

Prediction: How This Development Can Affect Tenants in South London

The demolition order requires the three remaining families at Kanli Mews to vacate once enforced, potentially leading to reliance on council temporary accommodation.

Tenants on Universal Credit, like Magbule Selyahtinova and her husband, face barriers in private rentals, as landlords often reject benefit claimants, prolonging their search.

This exacerbates Lewisham’s housing crisis, where 2,450 households already occupy temporary spots.

Displaced families may join council waiting lists, straining resources amid south London’s high demand.

If the new application for five homes succeeds, alternative housing could emerge, but rejection would enforce full demolition, further limiting options.

Tenants remain in limbo without specified timelines from the council.