There’s a bit of a tussle in Notting Hill between Indian billionaire Anand Ahuja and the actor Sonam Kapoor on one side, and some of their neighbours on the other. Locals say a company with ties to the family has put its hand on five flats next to the 21 million pound mansion, and the tab for those is in excess of 4 million. It has set off some talk about who’s in charge, what it means for the community, and what will become of a place with some history.
What is driving the dispute
You have to look at the scale of the rework to understand the row. The Notting Hill property, which was put in the bag in 2023, is being given a thorough overhaul with a pool and the like. Some have it that 4.7 million has gone into the renovations so far.
It was Harish Ahuja of Shahi Exports who made the buy, and once they are done with it, it is to be where Anand and Sonam will put down roots. They are already in Notting Hill, one of the pricier parts of town, but this is a new chapter.
The five-flat bet and building influence
Now all eyes are on the Hillcrest block over the way. A firm connected to the family has, we are told, shelled out more than 4 million for five of the units and some garage space. A few in the neighbourhood are worried these could end up as living quarters for the mansion’s staff and change the way the block is run.
Then you have the critics who see it as a way for the new owners to have a say in how the building is managed. Others will have you believe it is just a no-nonsense real estate deal and there is no need to read into it.
To put the numbers in perspective:
– 21 million for the Notting Hill home
– 4 million and up for the five flats and garages
– 4.7 million in reported reno costs
Claims, counterclaims, and a social housing flashpoint
People in the area feel the recent spate of buying has put a divide in the community. There are claims the flats are for staff, and that if you make too much of an issue, someone from the owner’s side will let you know the units might be put forward for social housing. That has been a sore point for some.
One homeowner put it as a worry that you can be overruled by a well-heeled neighbour and that things are being steered from behind closed doors. It is a reminder of how exposed you can be when a big player comes to town.
Family’s position
Those speaking for the family put the record straight: there is no intention to get hold of units for staff. They were for investment, plain and simple. And they add that the Kapoors had nothing to do with the company that made the flat purchases.
Sonam Kapoor in particular is not involved with the firm, according to reports. It is another piece in a jigsaw of a story where everyone has a different take on what is going on.
Why this matters for prime London property
If you want to see the underbelly of top-tier London real estate, this is it. When you have enough clout in a building, you can move the goalposts and raise eyebrows. In places with an established community, even a standard investor’s play can be viewed as a power grab.
It is a matter of reputation for the buyer in these kind of postcodes. For the ones living there, a project with a lot of frills and the buying of the properties next door can seem like the start of a permanent shift in how they live and are governed.
The pair have a flat and a studio in the area as well, and the 21 million (270 crore) price tag for the mansion was in the papers before. One source says 4.7 million (60.4 crore) has been put into the fix-up already.
With the work in progress, you have two sides holding their ground:
– Neighbours are on edge about staff and control
– The family’s people say it is an investment
– Some locals are alleging talk of social housing if they don’t back down
Ownership is what it is, but with the redevelopment on, it is now a matter of how you are perceived, and whether a marquee address in London can have it both ways – the ambition of an investor and the good will of the community.
