Residents of Admiral Court, a mixed-tenure apartment complex in Croydon, south London, have been without gas supply—and consequently heating and hot water—since March, due to safety concerns about dangerous gas leaks. The prolonged outage has severely impacted daily life, with some residents enduring months without basic utilities.
Samantha Banner and her partner, who are leaseholders of one of the 65 flats in the development, have managed by using camping showers and buckets filled with water boiled in kettles, a struggle particularly difficult as Samantha experienced most of her pregnancy amid these conditions. Attempts to sell their flat were also thwarted after a buyer withdrew, citing increased service charges and the ongoing gas issues.
Complex Ownership Dispute Delays Repairs
The gas supply was halted after an expert report found the pipeline work did not meet the standards set by the Institution of Gas Engineers and Managers. The original developer, UK Land Assets, went into liquidation, and a dispute persists among the freeholder, housing association, managing agents, and the developer’s associated companies over responsibility for costs to replace the faulty infrastructure.
Warwick Estates, the managing agent, stated neither they nor the freeholder were involved with the original development and described the situation as complicated, noting that under lease terms, gas pipe repairs fall to individual leaseholders. However, they acknowledge the difficulty residents face in managing such expensive repairs and are investigating the possibility of installing electric heating and hot water systems.
Residents Struggle and Seek Relief
Other residents have also shared difficulties. Zainab Ottun, a shared owner who bought a 25% share of her flat in 2019, cannot sell her property because of the issues. Recovering from surgery when gas was cut off, she relied on bucket baths. Akira Pascall, a pediatric nurse, has used camping showers for her family after long work shifts, expressing frustration at suggestions residents might bear the cost of repairs for what is intended as affordable housing.
Responses and Government Perspective
Croydon Churches Housing Association, which leases 22 apartments in Admiral Court, said it has urged the freeholder to find a long-term solution, relocating some tenants, providing electric heaters and temporary showers, and offering aid for electricity costs. The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government condemned the situation as unacceptable, highlighting ongoing legislative reforms aimed at strengthening protections for leaseholders.
The Leasehold Knowledge Partnership charity warned the case reflects broader challenges leaseholders face in seeking redress for building defects, citing legal limitations and warranty issues post-Grenfell fire reforms.
Outlook Remains Uncertain
With no clear timeline for restoration, residents remain in limbo. The freeholder is still in talks with companies connected to the original developer to recover costs, but the pathway to restoring gas and heating remains unresolved months after the supply was cut off.
