Key Points
- Eight terraced homes in Lewisham, south London, were built on land that had permission only for warehouse use.
- The development was built by Eden Park Property Ltd and named Kanli Mews after the co-directors Husayin, Koray and Sanel Kanli.
- Tenants were rented the homes for more than £1,050 a month, according to reports.
- Lewisham Council has ordered the “substandard” homes to be demolished.
- An inspector ruled the homes were too small, lacked adequate outdoor space and amounted to an unacceptable form of development.
- Some residents, including a woman identified as Magule Sahtinova, say they still do not know where they will move next.
- Three families were reported to still be living in the properties while trying to find new accommodation.
Lewisham (South London News) April 27 , 2026 – Families face eviction after Lewisham Council ordered the demolition of eight homes built without planning permission on a narrow plot behind shops, in a case that has left tenants searching for somewhere else to live.
As reported by the Daily Mail’s journalist on March 29, 2026, Eden Park Property Ltd built the row of two-storey houses on land that had only been approved for warehouse use, before renting them out to unsuspecting tenants. The development was named Kanli Mews, and the company’s co-directors were identified as Husayin, Koray and Sanel Kanli.
The homes were later described by Lewisham Council as “substandard”, with the authority ordering that they must be demolished. Reported rent levels began at about £1,050 a month, placing the occupants in a position where they paid for homes that had not been legally authorised as residential properties.
What did the planning inspector decide?
According to the reports, Inspector Timothy King found that each home measured about 50 square metres and judged them to offer a poor standard of accommodation.
He also said the houses lacked adequate outdoor space and represented an unacceptable form of development.
The inspector’s ruling also said the scheme harmed the character of the surrounding area and failed to enhance the quality of the site.
That assessment became central to the council’s move to force demolition rather than allow the homes to remain in use.
What are tenants saying?
One resident, identified in the reports as 50-year-old Magule Sahtinova, said she had lived at Kanli Mews for around five years without knowing the homes had been built without proper permission.
She said some occupants had already left after learning the properties could be demolished, while she and her husband were still paying more than £1,000 a month and trying to find another place to live.
The reports said three families were still in the homes and were actively looking for new accommodation. Sahtinova said they had asked the council for help but had not received an answer they could rely on, leaving them in limbo as the demolition order moved forward.
Who is responsible for the development?
Eden Park Property Ltd was named as the company behind the build, and its website describes it as a property investment and management business specialising in residential and commercial lettings in London and the South East.
The reports said the firm had purchased the land in 2018 before constructing the homes on a site that had not been approved for that use.
When approached for comment, the company declined to respond, according to the Daily Mail report. Husayin Kanli was quoted as saying there was “no issue at all” and that no one was living there, but the conversation ended when he was told tenants still remained in the properties.
Why is the council taking action?
Lewisham Council’s action follows the view that the homes were built unlawfully and did not meet acceptable living standards.
The council described the houses as “substandard” and decided demolition was necessary rather than continued occupation.
The case also sits within a wider pattern of local authorities increasing enforcement against illegal or unsafe housing.
A separate report noted that planning enforcement actions have risen sharply in recent years, reflecting a tougher approach by councils where developments breach permissions or create safety risks.
What happens next for residents?
The immediate issue for the people still living at Kanli Mews is finding replacement housing before the homes are taken down.
The reports suggest the council’s demolition order has left families with limited time and little certainty about where they will go.
If the demolition proceeds as ordered, residents who remain in the properties will need to move out and secure alternative accommodation, likely in a difficult London rental market.
For those already on modest or strained budgets, the reported rents of more than £1,050 a month indicate that any new housing may be even harder to afford.
Background of the development
Kanli Mews is part of a broader debate about planning enforcement, housing standards and the conversion of land to residential use without consent.
The case shows how a site intended for storage or warehouse use was instead developed into homes, creating legal and practical problems once the breach was identified.
The reports also reflect the growing scrutiny councils are placing on developments that bypass planning permission or fail to meet basic standards such as space, outdoor provision and suitability for occupation.
In this case, both the planning judgment and the council’s enforcement action aligned against the development, leaving the homes vulnerable to demolition.
Prediction: What could this mean for tenants?
For tenants, the most immediate effect is displacement, because those still in the homes may have to find alternative accommodation quickly and may face pressure from a formal demolition process.
The wider effect could be caution among renters, who may become more alert to checking whether a property has the necessary permissions and legal status before signing a tenancy.
For councils and regulators, the case may strengthen the case for tougher planning enforcement against unlawful residential conversions, especially where homes are small or fail to meet acceptable standards. For landlords and developers, it is likely to serve as a warning that building or letting without the right permission can lead not only to enforcement action but also to the loss of the entire scheme.
