A “SLUM landlord” has been barred from renting out his Catford flats, which were built without planning permission and left one tenant “suicidal”.
Lewisham Council has slapped Stan Estates Limited, which is owned by Israel Zelman, with prohibition orders preventing it from renting out the four bedsits in Sangley Road, Catford.
One of the prohibition notices, seen by the Lewisham Letter, lists a string of serious hazards in one of the flats and points out that the properties were not registered for council tax.
A disabled tenant living in one of the flats said he is desperate to move out but has nowhere else to live within reach of his support network.
Describing the impact of the conditions, Tony Waterson, told the Lewisham Letter: “It’s been like a living hell. It’s made me want to take my own life quite a few times.
“The worst thing has been the leaks, the moisture and the mould. I’ve got asthma and I’ve gone from having the brown and the blue inhaler to now being on the Fostair, which is literally one step down from the nebuliser, and I’m on steroid tablets to keep me breathing.
“I’ve had laptops ruined, mattresses, bedding. I’ve had to replace all that from my benefit money.
“Also the kitchen is so small I can’t even cook in here. I have no space to prepare food and there’s no space for me to put cooking appliances.
“There’s one heater, which barely gives off any heat. And there are no windows in the flat so as soon as I shut the door it’s pitch black. I can fall asleep and wake up in the afternoon, it’s messed with my body clock and my mental health.
“The landlord doesn’t care. All they care about is their next lot of money.”
Tony, who moved into the flat three years ago after becoming homeless, said there are also numerous other issues at the property, including water and power problems.
He credited his partner and his support dog for helping him through his ordeal in the flat.
The dad was offered alternative accommodation by Lewisham Council after it handed Stan Estates a prohibition notice in 2025.
However, he claims the local authority only offered him properties outside the borough – far away from his partner, who is his only support network.
Tony told the Lewisham Letter that he is now eating just one meal a day, which is a takeaway because he cannot cook in the flat.
The council’s prohibition order for one of the flats said: “Whilst it is possible to have bedsit accommodation incorporating a kitchen area and a sleeping area there needs to be sufficient circulation space to use kitchen facilities.
“This flat had no cooker or adequate space for a cooker with a worktop to the side of it to set hot items down, no adequate provision for storage of food or for utensils for cooking. There was no provision of a suitable sink for washing up or any draining board.”
The prohibition order added that there were no refuse collection arrangements for the property, which is believed to have been converted from shop storage space into four flats in early 2023.
It was converted without planning permission and the flats have not been registered for council tax, the prohibition order added.
Israel Zelman, the owner of Stan Estates Limited, told the Lewisham Letter there were already tenants living in the flats when he bought the property. Land Registry records show Stan Estates Limited paid £900k for the Sangley Road property in 2024.
He claimed he was not made aware of any complaints about condition in the flats prior to or following his purchase.
The landlord added: “Shortly after acquiring the property, I was notified by Lewisham Council regarding the planning designation.
“My sole priority has always been to adhere strictly to the law and ensure safety. I acted immediately. I notified all tenants without delay and worked in full cooperation with the council to support their relocation, including offering financial assistance to cover moving expenses.
“I’m in no way profiting from this situation. While most of the tenants cooperated and smoothly transitioned to suitable housing, this individual has chosen to exploit the situation.
“While alleging that the conditions are unlivable, he has steadfastly refused to vacate, living there completely rent-free and without paying utility bills for nearly two years. He is the sole beneficiary of maintaining this status quo.”
Mr Zelman said he is now legally responsible for the “property’s safety” but barred from entering or carrying out necessary works while Tony remains.
He added: “I fully welcome any swift enforcement or involvement by Lewisham Council and the courts to resolve this impasse and safely clear the property.
“Formal legal proceedings are currently underway to formalize his eviction through the proper judicial channels.”
A Lewisham Council spokesperson told the Lewisham Letter: “There is currently no active housing application from the resident. As they may be at risk of homelessness, we have invited them to apply so we can assess what support the Council may be able to provide.
“We are also investigating whether the private landlord has breached any private sector housing legislation. As these enquiries are ongoing, it would not be appropriate to comment further at this stage.”
Anyone who may be experiencing suicidal thoughts can contact Samaritans for free at any time on 116 123 or on www.samaritans.org.