Controversial landlord spends £2bn on iconic London property, including Liberty shop

A German landlord with a reputation for poorly maintained buildings has bought up swathes of London real estate, including iconic buildings such as Liberty’s Regent Street shop and the art deco Shell Mex House on the Strand.

According to research by the Guardian, Henning Conle has spent £2bn on prime real estate in London, fuelling speculation over how he raised the capital.

Conle makes his property deals through Luxembourg-registered company Sirosa, which has gained increased attention in the London property market due to a sharp increase in activity in recent months.

However, Conle does not have a sparkling reputation in Germany, where he owns an estimated 10,000 properties.

The 70-year-old tycoon’s properties have been frequently associated with lack of maintenance and bad management.

Questions have also risen over the possibility that Conle is investing money in property on behalf of other parties, possibly even Russia, the Guardian says, though Conle has denied the claims.

Other iconic buildings in Conle’s portfolio include the Barker’s Building on Kensington High Street, the Plaza shopping centre on Oxford Street, the Kensington Roof Gardens complex, and the Grade II listed Stratton House, which is home to the London offices of Manchester United.