.svg)
For the residents of Balfron Tower, a landmark brutalist structure in Poplar, Tower Hamlets, the promise of modern urban living has been replaced by a grim reality of broken lifts, endless stairs, and mounting despair. What began as an inconvenience has spiraled into a full-blown crisis, leaving tenants with "crippling anxiety," exacerbated health conditions, and a profound sense of abandonment.
The iconic tower, a Grade II listed building, is home to individuals who are now routinely forced to brave as many as 24 flights of stairs to reach their homes. The building's two lifts have reportedly been plagued by failures at least twice a month since last September, culminating in a particularly harrowing incident on May 13th when both lifts simultaneously ceased operation, leaving residents stranded for a week.
Harper, a 21-year-old model residing on the 24th floor, vividly recounts his ordeal. "I had crippling anxiety after being stuck in the lift in October," he revealed. Since moving in last September, Harper estimates over seven separate instances of lift malfunctions. The 10-minute climb to his top-floor flat is a daily reality, and when both lifts failed, he simply "did not leave his flat." Paying a hefty £2,500 a month for his two-bedroom apartment, Harper expressed profound frustration at the absence of "the basic amenity of a working lift," particularly concerning for his housemate who suffers from a heart condition.
The impact on vulnerable residents is particularly stark. Peter Yu, 58, who lives on the 15th floor and suffers from a spinal injury affecting his L3 and L4 discs, described his situation as "I am lost. I don't know what to do." After attempting to climb the stairs during the dual lift failure, Mr. Yu endured "excruciating pain which took two days to recover from." His six-month-old boxer puppy, Bee, was also left distressed, forced to use the balcony for relief due to inability to go outside.
For Aayush Rangras, 21, a Queen Mary University student, and his girlfriend Vasundhara Gupte, 22, the lift failures have turned a daily commute into a physical struggle. Miss Gupte's hamstring injury has been severely exacerbated by the constant stair climbing. In a shocking incident last week, Mr. Rangras had to carry Miss Gupte on his back up 15 flights of stairs after a cinema trip, under the false assumption that the lift was operational. Mr. Rangras is now calling for CCTV on the stairwells, citing two falls experienced by a neighbor with mobility issues, highlighting critical safety concerns.
Adding to the residents' woes, a tenant who anonymously posted about the lift failures on social media reported being intimidated by a staff member from the building management company, who allegedly threatened them to remove the post.
In response to the escalating crisis, Way of Life, the building's management company, issued an apology to residents, stating, "As described to us this behaviour is very disappointing and absolutely does not reflect the values and conduct to which we aspire, and we apologise for that." The company has committed to an investigation and has "temporarily removed certain staff from the site." They also assured residents that their "fire safety plan is treated with the highest levels of care and consideration and the Fire Brigade has signed off the plan specific to this building."
Residents have been offered a 24-hour helpline and increased on-site staff. A part for the out-of-service lift has reportedly been ordered from Germany, with a promised repair date of Thursday evening.
The Standard has reached out to Way of Life for further comment as Balfron Tower residents continue to grapple with a living situation that has become a deeply concerning testament to the challenges of modern urban housing and the critical importance of reliable infrastructure within the borough of Tower Hamlets.
.jpg)
