Several families placed in temporary accommodation at Britannia Point in Colliers Wood, south-west London, reported extreme heat conditions after being told they could not use the air conditioning system installed in their flats. The restrictions coincided with recent heatwaves, during which at least two children required hospital treatment for heat-related illnesses.

Britannia Point is a 19-storey glass-fronted residential block owned by Criterion Capital, a property firm founded by billionaire Asif Aziz. The building’s extensive use of glass and limited window ventilation have made cooling the flats challenging during high temperatures, according to residents.

Tenants in temporary accommodation, which councils provide to homeless households for varying durations, are managed by lettings agencies. One such agency, London-based Aura Assets Management, oversees some tenancies at Britannia Point. An email seen by the tenants stated that air conditioning had been switched off for households in emergency accommodation because it “has not been offered as an amenity” under their tenancy agreements. Residents were instead advised to use portable fans or air conditioning units they supply themselves.

Some residents expressed concern over the heat and its effects on their health. Alice Rogers, who lives in the building with her four-year-old son, Hassan, said the heat became intolerable and that her son had experienced a nosebleed and fainting. Other tenants said that windows opened only slightly, limiting airflow and compounding the problem.

Local officials condemned the situation. Stuart Neaverson, a Labour councillor in Merton, where Britannia Point is located, described the circumstances as “disgraceful” and confirmed reports of two children taken to hospital due to heat-related issues. Neaverson, along with local Member of Parliament Siobhain McDonagh, called for immediate restoration of air conditioning ahead of anticipated further heatwaves.

Aura Assets Management later issued a statement confirming that the air conditioning system was now fully operational and that tenants had been informed they were permitted to use it. The company also advised residents to moderate their use to avoid unexpectedly high electricity bills, noting concerns that charges might be based on standing fees rather than actual usage. Aura acknowledged that an earlier email, sent by the building management, incorrectly stated that air conditioning was unavailable to households in emergency accommodation and attributed this to the operational arrangements at the time.

Criterion Capital has been contacted for comment but had not responded at the time of publication. The incident raises questions about the management of temporary accommodations during extreme weather events and highlights ongoing challenges faced by homeless families placed in such housing arrangements.