After a successful public meeting back in February and over 200 responses to his Harringay and St Ann’s Ward Survey - one of the clear issues worrying local residents is the problem of the unlawful conversions of properties with some becoming Houses in Multiple Occupancy (HMOs). This issue also comes up time and again in letters and emails to David Lammy’s office and on the doorstep when David is campaigning or holding street surgeries. He is now launching an online form to allow local residents to report their concerns quickly and easily to his office.
David in launching the campaign to tackle unlawful conversions said: “I have been contacted by many residents over many years about the issue of unlawful property conversions in Tottenham. This is clearly an issue that is affecting many people’s quality of life and one that is changing the nature of housing and the make up of our streets in Tottenham week by week. “In recent months, I have raised this issue on numerous occasions with both the Leader and Chief Executive of Haringey Council; highlighting the negative impact of Tottenham’s large family homes being converted into numerous dwellings, often tiny, unlicensed and in poor condition. “I have raised matters relating to this with the Haringey’s Borough Police Commander and have even taken the unusual step of referring a particularly bad case of a property conversion, including the issuing of a Certificate of Lawfulness by Haringey Council based on what seems to have been forged evidence, to the Local Government Ombudsman. “I have also met with the Director and Cabinet Member for Housing in Haringey, as well as the Assistant Director for Enforcement, with whom I visited a property of concern. In the property I visited, I was saddened to see a house that had been converted into seven separate units, each with its own ‘kitchen’ – As I’m sure you will understand, the living conditions were extremely cramped. This is the story of too many properties in Tottenham and it has to stop. “It is simply not acceptable for Tottenham to be seen as a soft touch by landlords - many of whom seemingly have no regard either for their tenants, or for other local residents. I intend to use the evidence local residents supply to challenge for better enforcement from Haringey Council and if necessary push for more legal powers from the Government.” If you have a concern about a property in your local area, please download and complete this form by clicking here: ‘Residents’ Form: Concerns about Possible Unlawful Conversions in Tottenham’ or click here to fill in the form online. If you download the form please return it to Nora Mulready, Senior Caseworker, Office of David Lammy MP, House of Commons, London, SW1A 0AA or by email to mulreadyn@parliament.uk.
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