‘Greedy’ landlord leaves tenants ‘living in darkness’ with giant iPhone ad plastered across building
A GREEDY landlord has left their tenants living in the dark after plastering a massive iPhone advert across their windows with no warning, it has been claimed.
People living in the north east London block of flats weren’t told the massive canvas would be plastered across the front of their building and feel nothing is being done.
One disgruntled tenant – who pays £250-a-week to live in his one-bed flat at Dalston Junction – said he got so desperate he tried to cut a section of the advert away outside his window.
Ahmed Mehjood, 55, told The Sun Online: “They are getting money from this and they don’t care.
“They said this is what we are doing and if you don’t like you can leave.
“They didn’t say anything before it went up.”
The Sun Online understands six flats in the block – owned by Buckingham Investments Ltd – are affected including vulnerable families.
Local politician Dr Alex Armitage – who is standing for the Greens in next month’s election – said residents in the block are living in “desperate” situations.
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Mr Ahmed said the mega advert – which includes BT branding – showing a new iPhone has been up for around he month.
He added: “One day I even tried to cut it away and they said do not do that again. I used a knife.
“I am not comfortable with it at all. It’s preventing sunlight coming in.
“No one has apologised or anything. There’s no light, no sun, no view.”
He also claimed Hackney Council is aware of the huge canvas and visited his flat to photograph it but are powerless to remove it.
He said: “The council came and looked and took pictures but didn’t do anything.
“They said this is up to the landlord and we cannot force him to remove it.
“They told us it is his building and he can do whatever he will do in his building. He is getting more money.”
In 2016, it was reported that Buckingham Investments, owned by businessman Isaac Salem, were taken to court over a similar advert at the same building.
‘SELLING THE SUNLIGHT’
A council spokesperson said at the time was taking legal action over the large banner at 600 Kingsland Road, part of the Dalston Conservation Area, as part of an investigation into illegal advertising.
The spokesperson said: “The advertisement in place at 600 Kingsland Road does not have advertising consent and is therefore illegal.
“The council has been conducting a thorough investigation of this and other similarly illegal advertisements in the borough.
“A prosecution has commenced and court summons have been issued for the owner of the building and the owner of the advert at 600 Kingsland Road.”
He told Sun Online: “When your landlord sells the sunlight coming through your window, you know how brutal modern Britain can be.”
He added: “Families are living there in desperate situations. Some are private tenants, others are homeless people housed by the council.
“The building is in a state of disrepair, cracked windows, rotting window frames.
“Constant issues with alcohol and other drugs, security issues.”
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A Council spokesperson said: “We are aware of this advert and are looking at what enforcement action we can take against the building’s owners to have it removed”.
The landlord has been contacted for comment.
A spokesman for BT declined to comment.
Is it illegal and why?
The general rule of thumb when it comes to displaying advertising on any building is to seek permission from the Local Authority.
Some Local Authorities can be quite specific in having to approve the size and look, while others might not require any planning restrictions.
Most rules for signage on properties falls under commercial properties.
It isn’t as clear for landlords seeking to place signage over dwellings, but the first thing they must do is seek permission from their local council.
