A beauty salon owner in Custom House has warned her business is “struggling to survive” as she cannot afford council rent.
Suleica Lerebours Moquete, owner of Suli Divine Hair and Beauty Spa, has asked Newham Council for help with her rent. The council was set to contact her this week.
She told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) that she is “anxious about what’s going to happen” if she can’t keep up with payments.
Suleica, a long-term Custom House resident, has rented her salon at 29–31 Freemasons Road from the council since 2023, when she was selected as a tenant through the council’s Regeneration Hub after an interview and viability assessments.
Council literature at the time said the town hall backed her tenancy because she would give jobs and training to others in the community.
However, rising costs such as energy bills mean that, like many businesses, Suleica’s salon is struggling – and she now faces a further rent increase.
‘Crisis’
Suleica said: “At the moment everything we make is going towards business rates, electricity, insurance and the water bill.
“Right now our rent is £15,000 a year, but they want to set it at £18,000.”
She added: “I have seen so many businesses close, we can’t deny there’s a crisis.”
Suleica said she has fallen into rent arrears and has asked the council for help, but has yet to receive an offer. She said the uncertainty is “giving me anxiety”.
‘Financial stress’
A council spokesperson told the LDRS the town hall would contact Suleica this week.
The spokesperson said: “We are aware that, unfortunately and in common with many small businesses, the current economic climate is causing financial stress for this trader.
“As a council, Newham actively supports local community-based business and offers to discuss difficulties to give them the best chance to be successful.”
They added: “We have been in touch with the business previously and we will be making contact again this week to discuss.”
Demolition
Suleica successfully applied to rent the shop on a temporary basis after it fell vacant.
The parade of shops and homes at the southern end of Freemasons Road is earmarked for demolition as part of the regeneration of Custom House. The council was seeking community businesses to occupy vacant units until then.
An application for planning permission for the redevelopment has been pending assessment since 2024. The council did not answer a question from the LDRS about its progress.
Success story
A single mother of three, Suleica trained as a chef in Spain and worked in catering before moving into the beauty trade, inspired by her mother and eldest sister, who were hairdressers.
When the salon opened, the council held her up as a success story. In a case study published by the Town Hall, she thanked its business and enterprise, property and regeneration teams – as well as her ward councillor, Sara Ruiz – for helping to make the business possible, and set out plans to bring Dominican salon culture, including the famous Dominican Blowout treatment, to Custom House.
The same council literature praised “her desire to not only establish Suli Divine Hair and Beauty Spa but also to create opportunities for others in her community”.
‘We play dominoes’
Since opening, Suleica says her business has become a place for Spanish-speaking people to gather and socialise, and that she has given training and employment to young people from Custom House.
Suleica said: “We’ve got a lot of Latinos around – the life we bring to Custom House, we need this.
“We sit outside, we play dominoes, some people come to get their hair cut and watch the football. It makes me happy.”
