Councillor with £2m Oldham housing portfolio linked to collapsed building

A house on King Street, Oldham collapsed on March 24, 2026, injuring five people and displacing over 40 residents. The building was owned by KKS Investors, a company co-owned by independent councillor Kamran Ghafoor, who has a £2 million property portfolio in the town.

Locals had reported worsening cracks in the wall weeks before the collapse, and emergency services were called out multiple times. The building came down in an avalanche of bricks and debris, narrowly missing pedestrians and crushing a bus stop outside the Euro King Mini Market.

Ghafoor denies responsibility, suggesting windy weather contributed to the collapse. But his history includes a 2024 incident where 24 vulnerable people were evacuated from his property due to water leaks and electrical hazards, and a 2013 fine for renting out an 'unfit to live in' flat.

Current tenants report ongoing issues including leaks, structural cracks, and unsecured doors. The Health and Safety Executive investigation is ongoing, with council and Ghafoor disputing timelines of scaffolding works before the collapse. Residents remain traumatized, with one saying he feels like a building is falling on him every time he tries to sleep.