One of the most senior former officers from Scotland Yard, Tarique Ghaffur CBE, has launched a criminal investigation into multi-billionaire landlord Asif Aziz, following complaints from residents of a luxury apartment block on Park Lane in Mayfair.
This exclusive location is home to high-profile individuals, including Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan and Pakistan’s Sharif family.
Ghaffur confirmed he is leading a private probe into Asif Aziz, whose company manages Fountain House, a high-end property comprising about 80 apartments near the Dorchester Hotel. Residents of Fountain House have raised concerns about how the property is managed, particularly about service charges and a lack of proper services.
The investigation focuses on Aziz and his property management firm, Parkgate Aspen. Ghaffur stated: “We are conducting a criminal investigation into Fountain House over several matters concerning Asif Aziz and his management company and cohorts.
The investigation has risen due to several complaints from leaseholders and information I have subsequently received and reviewed. In our opinion due to the serious concerns regarding matters that have occurred, it merits a criminal investigation.
We have started to collect evidence to prove criminal offences and thereafter we shall report our findings to the relevant authorities.”
Asif Aziz, who is often referred to as Mr. Mayfair or Mr. West End, owns hundreds of premium properties across London and runs the Aziz Foundation.
Residents of Fountain House, many of whom are millionaires, have taken legal action in a civil court over how the building is being managed and the fees they are required to pay.
Aziz has faced criticism in the past from various media outlets. The magazine Private Eye raised concerns over his use of offshore companies registered in the Isle of Man to purchase properties in London, particularly pubs, which he reportedly shut down to build high-end housing.
In 2017, Aziz appeared in the High Court claiming that his wife of 14 years wasn’t entitled to a share of his £1.1 billion fortune, arguing they were never legally married. The case ended with a settlement.
During the pandemic in 2020, The Times questioned his treatment of tenants, calling him possibly “the meanest landlord in Britain.” Then in 2022, Novara Media accused Aziz of turning community spaces into luxury housing, prompting legal threats from his lawyers who claimed the coverage was defamatory.
In early 2025, his property firm Criterion Capital was again in the spotlight after the Prince Charles Cinema in London revealed that its landlord, Zedwell LSQ Ltd, owned by Aziz’s company, was demanding a major rent increase and a short break clause in the new lease. The cinema launched a “Save The Prince Charles Cinema” petition, which drew 115,000 signatures in just two days.
In 2025, reports surfaced of poor maintenance and rodent problems in properties managed under Aziz’s “Dstrkt” housing brand, despite rising rents.
Additionally, Aziz reportedly paid £150,000 to settle claims that he operated an unlicensed Forrest Gump-themed shrimp restaurant at Piccadilly Circus.
There is also mention of Golfrate Holdings (Angola) Lda, a company under U.S. sanctions, known by various names including Golfrate Africa, Golfrate Distribution, and Golfrate Food Industries. However, the connection to Aziz remains unclear in public records.