The last remaining families of two ‘doomed’ North London tower blocks claim they will remain in the creaking ‘unsafe’ complexes until the bulldozers arrive – despite their local council offering some of them £100k the value of their flats to move. 

This week, the Daily Mail met the defiant residents of Cheshire House and Shropshire House in Enfield, north London – two decommissioned blocks of flats which were declared ‘structurally unsound’ in early 2023.

The huge blocks, which are made up of a mix of local authority accommodation private leasehold properties, are now predominately empty, but those that remain, including two council tenants are steadfastly refusing to budge. 

Both buildings were built using the now discredited large panel system (LPS) technique – a system where structures are built out of pre-fabricated concrete panels which degrade over time. 

The construction technique was commonly used in many public projects post WW2 before knowledge of the structural and fire safety risks that degradation (which commonly present as cracks) causes over time. 

When the Mail arrived at the two ghostly Edmonton blocks this week, most flats inside were boarded up or had been emptied. 

However, the few residents who have remained in the crumbling mega-buildings told us that they were either financially unable or loathe to move due to a lack of clarity from their council. 

Chihan Buyukbas, 36, lives in a flat owned by his parents, who have lived there for 20 years and bought it for £160,000 in 2020 under the right to buy scheme. 

This week, the Daily Mail met the defiant residents of Cheshire House and Shropshire House in Enfield, north London

Built using the now discredited large panel system, Cheshire House was declared ‘structurally unsound’ in early 2023

Chihan Buyukbas, 36, is one of the last remaining private residents of the doomed block

He claimed his family were given assurances from the council that there were no plans to decommission them.

It is now valued at £240,000, which the council said they will pay, including an extra £24,000 for moving costs.

But he said they have been told if they want to remain in a council property, it must be of the same type of property.

He said: ‘Our flat is three bedrooms, we won’t get anything similar for that price. We’ve lost out and it’s no fault of our own. Within a year of us buying it, and them telling us there were no plans to knock it down, that’s exactly what they announced.

‘It’s terrible. I’ve said you cannot get a three-bedroom flat around here for £260,000. You’re looking at well over £350,000. We’ve always lived around here, we really like it, we don’t want to move.’

Mr Buyukbas said he was still trying to negotiate a better deal with the council.

He said: ‘We want something better. But also, after everything we’ve been through, we want something better.

Locals have complained of poor security, the smell of cannabis, anti-social behaviour and vandalism.

He said: ‘The council has not maintained these blocks at all. It’s dreadful. So I don’t want to be housed by them again really.’

Fellow remainer Aman Choudary, 49, rents his two-bedroom flat from a private landlord and said he felt trapped by the scandal.

Only a handful of residents remain in the ‘eerily spooky’ tower blocks – each holding on for a different reason

When the Mail arrived at the two ghostly Edmonton blocks this week, most flats inside were boarded up or had been emptied

Stats show there are around 7,000 households on the Enfield Council housing needs register

He claims he was not aware of the structural problems and has been ‘gobsmacked’ at news he needs to leave and has ‘no idea’ what they will do next.

He said: ‘It’s all a mystery. I don’t want to leave. We don’t feel like any of this is right. I will fight to stay. It’s a very bad situation.

‘It’s very difficult to get a house at this time. It’s peaceful now that nobody else is living here.

‘I am a private tenant. I have very little idea what I am entitled to or what I will get or what happens now.’

Another who is due to leave said he wanted to ‘fight to remain’.

The man, who did not want to be named, said: ‘I am a private tenant. I don’t want to leave. I only moved in two years ago.

‘I went through so much trying to get this place. The last thing I want to do is move out now. It’s eerily spooky but also quiet.’

The council has rehoused 162 council tenants in the blocks, leaving only two tenancies remaining.

The council has also acquired 35 of the 42 privately-owned leasehold properties.

Seven are yet to be acquired, with four in Cheshire House all being occupied, and two out of three in Shropshire House being occupied.

Stats show there are around 7,000 households on the Enfield Council housing needs register.

And there are 3,067 people living in temporary accommodation.

Enfield is an area plagued with problems associated with other tower blocks.

In 2020, a disabled dad and his family were left in mouldy, mouse-infested temporary accommodation, despite Enfield council accepting it was not suitable for their needs, the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman found.

Those that remain in the doomed blocks claim they have no other option 

And last year, the authority was told to pay a total of almost £13,000 in compensation to two families forced to live in hotels for ‘considerably longer than the law permits’.

An Enfield Council spokesperson said: ‘The two tower blocks, Cheshire House and Shropshire House, were built in the 1960s and now need major, expensive repairs to stay safe to live in. 

‘Independent experts have confirmed that fixing them is not a realistic option, so the only sustainable choice is to decommission the buildings.

‘Since 2023, the Council has been helping residents move to new homes and buying back leasehold properties so the blocks can be closed. We’ve been working directly with every household to understand their needs and support them throughout the move. 

‘So far, 162 council tenants have been successfully rehoused.

‘We have made fair and consistent offers to leaseholders. These are based on independent market valuations, plus a 10% home-loss payment where eligible, and support with legal fees and moving costs. 

‘This ensures everyone is treated openly and fairly, while allowing the wider redevelopment of the area to move forward.

‘We remain committed to supporting every resident through this process. The redevelopment will allow us to provide better homes for local people and improve housing standards for the future.’