Families face homelessness over illegal Kanli Mews homes, Lewisham 2026

Key Points

• Eight terraced homes in Lewisham, south London, have been declared “substandard” and must be demolished because they were built without proper planning permission for housing.
• The site, Kanli Mews, was originally granted permission only for storage units; the developer, Eden Park Property Ltd, instead constructed two‑storey residential houses.
• The properties were rented out to tenants for more than £1,050 a month, several of whom say they were unaware the homes were built illegally.
• Lewisham Council issued an enforcement notice in 2021 following a planning breach; the decision was later upheld by an independent inspector in 2023.
• The independent planning inspector, Timothy King, ruled that the homes provided a “poor standard of accommodation” and described them as an “unacceptable form of development” due to their small size and lack of outdoor space.
• Tenants are now facing eviction and say they feel “stuck in limbo”, fearing homelessness as they struggle to find alternative housing without disruption to their lives.

Lewisham (South London News) May 15, 2026 – Eden Park Property Ltd could lose eight homes at Kanli Mews after Lewisham Council ordered the terraced properties to be demolished, warning families that their homes were built illegally on land only approved for storage units. The council has declared the eight two‑storey houses “substandard” and unfit for long‑term habitation, prompting fresh anxiety for tenants who say they were never told the development was outside the original planning permission.

As reported by the Daily Mail, the homes were constructed on a narrow strip of land behind shops in south London, despite the 2009 grant of permission only allowing replacement of existing garages with eight storage units. Eden Park Property Ltd instead built the residential terrace, named Kanli Mews after co‑directors Husayin, Koray and Sanel Kanli, and began renting them out at upwards of £1,050 per month.

Who stands to be evicted, and what does the council say?

Lewisham Council updated residents in 2021 that the development breached planning rules and issued an enforcement notice demanding either full demolition or a return to storage‑unit use.

The landlord, Eden Park Property Ltd, appealed the decision, but, as reported by the Daily Mail and GB News, an independent planning inspector, Timothy King, upheld the council’s directive in 2023 after a hearing.

Inspector Timothy King concluded that each of the 50‑square‑metre homes provided a “poor standard of accommodation” and that the development was “unacceptable” because, among other factors, the dwellings lacked adequate outdoor space and proper living standards.

His ruling stated the properties detracted from the character of the surrounding area and did not meet the required standards for residential use.

What does this mean for the tenants living at Kanli Mews?

Several tenants have told media outlets they are stressed and fearful for their futures, with some already actively seeking alternative housing as demolition looms. One resident, 50‑year‑old Magbule Selyahtinova, who has lived in Kanli Mews for about five years, told the Daily Mail:

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

Selyahtinova added that she and her family have “so much luggage, so many things here” and feel under “a lot of stress”, while also expressing concern that landlords may be unwilling to rent to them given their current situation.

Other tenants have echoed similar sentiments, saying they were unaware the buildings were constructed illegally and now feel punished for a planning breach they did not authorise.

What is the developer’s position, and what options remain?

Lewisham Council has given Eden Park Property Ltd the choice either to demolish the homes entirely or to rebuild the site in line with the original warehouse‑only planning permission.

The company has since submitted a fresh planning application seeking to convert the site into five residential properties, a proposal that, as reported by GB News, remains under consideration and has not yet been decided by the local authority.

Sales particulars for the land, which have been shared with potential buyers, explicitly state that the eight houses must be demolished before any new commercial warehouse or light industrial premises can be constructed.

This language has raised concerns among tenants and local campaigners that the site is being treated primarily as a commercial asset, with little public focus yet on how displaced families will be rehoused.

How does Lewisham Council see this situation in the wider context of housing and planning?

In their enforcement statements, council officials have framed the Kanli Mews case as part of a broader effort to uphold planning rules and prevent substandard or unlawfully built developments from remaining in place. Councillors and local housing officers have emphasised that the decision to order demolition is based on the legal framework and the inspector’s findings, not on the personal circumstances of tenants.

However, the council has also acknowledged that families affected by the ruling may be at risk of homelessness and said that social services and housing officers are working to assess needs and signpost support where possible.

Local housing charities and campaigners have called for the council to treat the situation as a housing crisis issue, arguing that tenants who unknowingly paid rent for years should not be left without stable alternatives.

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Background of the Kanli Mews development

The Kanli Mews site lies on a narrow plot behind shops in Lewisham, an area where local authorities have in recent years tried to balance commercial and residential growth.

The land was originally used for garages, and in 2009, Lewisham Council granted planning permission only for those garages to be replaced with eight storage units, not for residential construction.

Eden Park Property Ltd, led by the Kanli family directors, later reshaped the site by constructing the eight terraced houses, which were marketed and rented as residential properties.

Planning officers noticed the discrepancy in 2021 and opened an enforcement investigation, concluding that the homes had been built in breach of the original permission.

The case was then referred to the independent planning inspectorate, where Inspector Timothy King reviewed dimensions, layout, and impact on the neighbourhood before delivering his 2023 ruling that the development was substandard and unacceptable for long‑term residential use.

That decision has since underpinned the council’s current stance that the homes must be demolished unless the developer can secure fresh, legally sound planning permission.

What this development could mean for Lewisham residents

If the council’s order is carried out and the Kanli Mews homes are demolished, the immediate impact is likely to fall hardest on existing tenants, who may face temporary or even long‑term housing instability. For low‑income and private‑rent tenants in Lewisham, displacement from a property that has already been their home for several years can disrupt schooling, employment, local support networks, and access to healthcare services.

More broadly, the case may influence how Lewisham residents view private landlords and speculative development. If families are left without clear rehousing routes despite having paid rent in good faith, trust in the planning and housing‑enforcement systems could weaken, particularly among renters who already grapple with the capital’s high private‑rental costs and limited social‑housing stock.