Full Breakdown
Taxpayer-Funded £70,000 Renovation of Abu Hamza’s Former London Home
By Drooid · · How we work
Renovation Plan and Funding
Hammersmith and Fulham Council has approved a £70,000 refurbishment of a five-bedroom Edwardian council house in Shepherd’s Bush, west London. The works include new windows, doors, solar panels and loft insulation and are part of a borough-wide improvement programme covering roughly 1,000 properties. A planning application has been submitted and the council aims to finish the work by the end of 2030.
Property Background and Tenancy Arrangement
The house, valued at about £1.7 million, is in a conservation area and is occupied by Najat Chaffe, 67, the wife of convicted extremist Abu Hamza. She holds a “tenancy for life” that prevents eviction, even though the council must keep the property in good condition. Critics note the five-bedroom house is large for Chaffe and her eight children.
Council’s Legal Obligations
Council officials say the tenancy creates a statutory duty to keep the home habitable, and the improvement programme is a legal obligation covering around 1,000 homes. In 2012 the council asked Chaffe to move to a smaller dwelling, citing a borough housing waiting list of over 10,000, but she was entitled to refuse under her tenancy terms.
Opposition Criticism
Conservative opposition leader Jose Afonso called the expenditure a “disgusting waste of public money,” arguing residents would be upset to see funds used on a house linked to a convicted terrorist. His remarks echo wider public concern about resource allocation.
Key Figures and Legal History
- Abu Hamza – 68-year-old Egyptian-born preacher, convicted in 2006 for inciting racial hatred and soliciting murder; extradited to the U.S. in 2012 and sentenced to life without parole for a 1998 Yemen kidnapping plot and a conspiracy to set up a terrorist training camp in Oregon.
- Najat Chaffe – 67-year-old wife of Abu Hamza, sole registered occupant since 1995.
- Jose Afonso – Conservative opposition leader on the council, vocal critic of the renovation spending.
Data Summary
- Renovation cost: £70,000 (taxpayer-funded).
- Property valuation: ? £1.7 million.
- House size: five bedrooms.
- Council programme: ? 1,000 homes.
- Borough housing waiting list (2012): > 10,000 applicants.
- Abu Hamza’s family: eight children.
Why It Matters
The refurbishment underscores the clash between statutory housing duties and public expectations for fiscal prudence when a property is tied to a high-profile extremist. Critics say the money could aid families on the waiting list, while the council argues legal duties require the upkeep.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Both statements are compatible, yet the exact start date remains unconfirmed pending planning permission. No comment has been given on whether the renovation will be altered if permission is delayed.
Timeline
- 2004 – Abu Hamza arrested in the UK.
- 2006 – Convicted for inciting racial hatred and soliciting murder.
- 2012 – Council asked Chaffe to move; she refused.
- 2012 – Abu Hamza extradited to the US.
- 2024 – Council announced the £70,000 refurbishment; planning application submitted; work slated for completion by 2030.
