The article by @myldn below is providing misleading information because @TowerHamletsNow provided them with a misleading press release The @ELAdvertiser also ran a misleading story eastlondonadvertiser.co.uk/n… They are both based on this press release from the Council written 22nd October towerhamlets.gov.uk/News_eve… BUT that does not match the contents of the Cabinet report on the 21st October democracy.towerhamlets.gov.u… If you listen to the Cabinet meeting (more on this later) you can see why the Council press team might have been misled as the politicians were so self congratulatory The Council news article implies a decision to acquire i.e. purchase four buildings on the Isle of Dogs for temporary accommodation. MyLondon wrote it as London council buys 4 Canary Wharf offices to turn them into 180 flats for homeless people This is misleading as in actuallity as per the Cabinet report: - Its a 10 year lease deal with the building owner able to exit the lease after 5 years - Its not the final Cabinet decision - Cabinet agreement was only to start work and "come back for approval once risks and negotiations are concluded." i.e. no agreement has been made to actually lease the buildings yet just to start work To quote the Cabinet report The proposed 10-year lease term is considered the best offer available to the Council and although the scheme would cost more than the current TA costs, in considering the report, the Council realises the anticipated operational and social benefits arising from the scheme. The Council is being offered a ten-year lease by Thames Quay Properties II Limited. The lease includes a landlord-only break option exercisable on a rolling basis from year five onwards on not less than twelve months’ written notice and contains an upward-only rent review at year five. 8.4 The lease will be contracted out of the security of tenure provisions of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954. As a consequence, the Council will have no statutory right to renew the lease at the expiry of the contractual term and vacant possession may be required at the end of the lease period. Delegate authority to the Corporate Director of Housing & Regeneration, in consultation with the Mayor, to conclude preliminary negotiations, obtain an independent rental valuation, agree the final lease terms, and take all necessary steps to complete the transaction and to come back for approval once risks and negotiations are concluded. I submitted a complaint to the Council and emailed the two reporters so that they are aware My complaint said Misleading information provided on news article Tower Hamlets to secure 180 new family homes for temporary accommodatio Complaint details Your news article implies a decision to acquire i.e. purchase four buildings on the Isle of Dogs for temporary accommodation This is misleading as in actuallity as per the Cabinet report - Its a 10 year lease deal with the building owner able to exit the lease after 5 years - Its not the final Cabinet decision - Cabinet agreement was only to start work and "come back for approval once risks and negotiations are concluded." i.e. no agreement has been made to actually lease the buildings Evidence is below News article posted on Thursday 22nd October 2026 says this Tower Hamlets to secure 180 new family homes for temporary accommodation Tower Hamlets Council is set to increase its supply of local temporary accommodation by acquiring four office buildings in Marsh Wall, Canary Wharf, to convert into family homes. Cabinet approved the proposal to acquire buildings at 191, 193, 195 and 197 Marsh Wall on Wednesday 21 October, with the intention of converting the units into temporary accommodation for local families. Plans would deliver approximately 180 homes, including 167 two-bedroom and 13 three-bedroom homes. Link here towerhamlets.gov.uk/News_eve… The Cabinet report says this The Council is seeking Individual Mayoral Decision approval to proceed with the acquisition to enter into lease for four commercial office buildings located at 191, 193, 195 and 197 Marsh Wall, Thames Quay, Docklands. Delegate authority to the Corporate Director of Housing & Regeneration, in consultation with the Mayor, to conclude preliminary negotiations, obtain an independent rental valuation, agree the final lease terms, and take all necessary steps to complete the transaction and to come back for approval once risks and negotiations are concluded. The proposed 10-year lease term is considered the best offer available to the Council and although the scheme would cost more than the current TA costs, in considering the report, the Council realises the anticipated operational and social benefits arising from the scheme. The Council is being offered a ten-year lease by Thames Quay Properties II Limited. The lease includes a landlord-only break option exercisable on a *See appendix 1 for further break down of income rolling basis from year five onwards on not less than twelve months' written notice and contains an upward-only rent review at year five. Link democracy.towerhamlets.gov.u… Action requested Revise the news article and issue in public a retraction with an equal weight given to the original announcement Contact external news outlets that used this information so that they can consider amendments like MyLondon mylondon.news/news/east-lond…