Latest news with #Christodoulou
See - Sada Elbalad
21-05-2025
- Politics
- See - Sada Elbalad
Commissioner for Gender Equality met with Ambassador of Egypt
Israa Farhan The Commissioner for Gender Equality, Ms. Josie Christodoulou, met yesterday with the Ambassador of Egypt to Cyprus, Mr. Mohammed Zaazou. During the meeting, which took place in a friendly atmosphere, the Commissioner referred to the excellent level of cooperation between the two countries in various sectors, which is also reflected in the Memorandum of Cooperation on the Economic Empowerment of Women in the Tourism Sector, signed by the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Cyprus and Egypt last January. Referring to her visit to Cairo last February, Ms Christodoulou noted the opportunities for enhancing the cooperation between Cyprus and Egypt in the field of women's empowerment. In this context, the Commissioner extended through the Egyptian Ambassador an invitation to the President of the National Council for Women (NCW) of Egypt, Ms. Amal Ammar, to visit Cyprus. Ms. Christodoulou then briefed the Ambassador on the work of her Office, with particular reference to the horizontal actions undertaken by the government with the aim of mainstreaming gender in all policy areas. For his part, Mr Zaazou stressed the excellent level of bilateral relations between Cyprus and Egypt, thanked Ms. Christodoulou for the thorough briefing and expressed the embassy's as well as his personal readiness to cooperate in promoting the work of the Commissioner. read more Gold prices rise, 21 Karat at EGP 3685 NATO's Role in Israeli-Palestinian Conflict US Expresses 'Strong Opposition' to New Turkish Military Operation in Syria Shoukry Meets Director-General of FAO Lavrov: confrontation bet. nuclear powers must be avoided News Iran Summons French Ambassador over Foreign Minister Remarks News Aboul Gheit Condemns Israeli Escalation in West Bank News Greek PM: Athens Plays Key Role in Improving Energy Security in Region News One Person Injured in Explosion at Ukrainian Embassy in Madrid News Egypt confirms denial of airspace access to US B-52 bombers News Ayat Khaddoura's Final Video Captures Bombardment of Beit Lahia News Australia Fines Telegram $600,000 Over Terrorism, Child Abuse Content Arts & Culture Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban's $4.7M LA Home Burglarized Sports Former Al Zamalek Player Ibrahim Shika Passes away after Long Battle with Cancer Sports Neymar Announced for Brazil's Preliminary List for 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers News Prime Minister Moustafa Madbouly Inaugurates Two Indian Companies Arts & Culture New Archaeological Discovery from 26th Dynasty Uncovered in Karnak Temple Business Fear & Greed Index Plummets to Lowest Level Ever Recorded amid Global Trade War Arts & Culture Zahi Hawass: Claims of Columns Beneath the Pyramid of Khafre Are Lies
The Guardian
31-03-2025
- Business
- The Guardian
Tenants win £260,000 of rent back in legal fight with London ‘rogue landlord'
Tenants of two buildings in east London have been awarded a six-figure sum in rent repayments by a tribunal after challenging a billionaire described by a judge as a 'rogue landlord'. The group of current and former residents of Olympic House and Simpson House in Hackney took companies owned by John Christodoulou to tribunal for operating unlicensed houses in multiple occupation (HMOs), which meant the buildings were not subject to the safety and quality standards required by law. The London Renters Union, which represents the tenants' group that brought the claim, said the lack of licensing left residents vulnerable to hazardous conditions, including fire risks due to inadequate safety measures. Cyprus-born Christodoulou, 59, is based in Monaco and, according to the Sunday Times rich list last year, has an estimated wealth of £2.5bn. The Guardian has contacted his company Yianis Group for comment. Jordan Osserman, a spokesperson for the campaign, said: 'This case shows how the law is rigged against renters. Christodoulou makes millions off our rent while flouting the law and cutting corners on safety.' During the hearing earlier in March, the judge in the first-tier tribunal (property chamber), Robert Latham, said: 'The respondent can only be characterised as a rogue landlord.' After a lengthy legal battle that began in 2020 – when the landlord rejected residents' request for rent relief during the Covid-19 crisis, telling them they could use money saved on lunches to pay their rent in full – 46 residents from 15 different flats across Olympic House and Simpson House have been awarded a combined total of £263,555.68. The ruling forms part of a rent repayment order (RRO). These were introduced in housing legislation in 2016 and empower the property chamber of the first-tier tribunal to force a landlord who has broken the law on housing standards to pay back part, or all, of the rent. There are now concerns that Christodoulou may not pay, despite the order. The London Renters Union said the tenants had discovered that the landlord was attempting to liquidate the companies that the judgments are against after transferring ownership of Olympic House and Simpson House from one company to another within his corporate group at a large loss or undervalue. Marc Sutton, a member of Somerford Grove Renters, which represents 170 flats in Olympic House, Simpson House and St John's Court in Hackney, all majority-owned by Christodoulou, said: 'This appears to be a deliberate attempt to evade financial responsibility through corporate restructuring. 'These tactics highlight how wealthy landlords manipulate corporate structures to avoid accountability while tenants suffer the consequences.' Osserman added: 'Even when we win in court, landlords like Christodoulou can game the system to avoid paying up.' He added: 'The only way we can fight back is by organising and taking collective action.'
