Investigation opened into charity over trustees’ failure to resolve land dispute
Source: gov.uk (2025-08-20)

The Charity Commission has opened a statutory inquiry into Darul-Uloom School London.

Darul-Uloom School London (https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/en/charity-search/-/charity-details/1043305/charity-overview?_uk_gov_ccew_onereg_charitydetails_web_portlet_CharityDetailsPortlet_organisationNumber=1043305) was registered with the Commission in 1995 and operates a school providing Islamic and national curriculum education to children and young people.

The regulator previously opened a separate statutory inquiry into the charity in 2018 after an altercation on the charity’s premises. That inquiry concluded in May 2022 and found serious mismanagement and misconduct in the administration of the charity. Two former trustees were disqualified.

During the course of that inquiry, the Commission became aware that one of the disqualified former trustees had made representations to the charity’s trustees asserting ownership of the land on which the school is based.

Following its enquiries, the Commission’s view is that there is evidence which shows that the land is held on trust by the charity, rather than being the personal property of any individual and has shared this view with both the charity’s trustees and the disqualified trustee.

However, despite the repeated deadlines given by the Commission for the trustees to resolve the issue, the trustees have failed to bring the matter of the land dispute to a conclusion. The regulator is concerned that these failures place the charity’s property at serious risk.

As a result, the Commission has escalated its engagement to a statutory inquiry.

The inquiry will evaluate the trustees’ administration, management, and governance of the charity. In particular, it will consider the conduct of the trustees and their compliance with legal duties and responsibilities as it relates to the land dispute.

The Commission may extend the scope of the inquiry if additional regulatory issues emerge.

ENDS

Notes for Editors:

The Charity Commission is the independent, non-ministerial government department that registers and regulates charities in England and Wales. Its ambition is to be an expert regulator that is fair, balanced, and independent so that charity can thrive. This ambition will help to create and sustain an environment where charities further build public trust and ultimately fulfil their essential role in enhancing lives and strengthening society.

On 15 July 2025, the Charity Commission for England and Wales opened a statutory inquiry into the charity under section 46 of the Charities Act 2011 as a result of regulatory concerns it has concerning the administration and management of the charity.

The Charity Commission previously opened a separate inquiry into the charity on 15 June 2018. This inquiry concluded in May 2022: Charity Commission disqualifies two former trustees of Darul-Uloom School, London - GOV.UK (https://www.gov.uk/government/news/charity-commission-disqualifies-two-former-trustees-of-darul-uloom-school-london)

The Commission’s guidance on decision making for charity trustees can be found here: Decision-making for charity trustees (CC27) - GOV.UK (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/its-your-decision-charity-trustees-and-decision-making)

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