A West London dentist has issued a stark warning that a proposed council rent hike of nearly 200 per cent could force his practice to abandon NHS patients, leading to a desperate situation where locals might resort to pulling out their own teeth at home.
The Stakes for King's Road Community Services
Keval Shah, a Director at the Teeth and Smiles Dental Practice on King's Road in Chelsea, is confronting a potential rent increase from Kensington and Chelsea Council. The annual bill for his practice could skyrocket from just under £34,000 to around £105,000, a figure he states would make providing NHS dentistry financially impossible.
Mr Shah, who has operated from the same site since 1999, explained the grim choices ahead. "If the rent goes up to [£105,000], backdated, NHS dentistry cannot be funded through just NHS work," he told the Local Democracy Reporting Service. "We [would] have to reduce our provision for patients and then just offer more private and stop taking NHS patients."
When asked about the consequences for the local community, his prediction was dire: "They will be pulling out their own teeth at home."
A Council's Duty vs. A Community's Needs
The premises in question are located in a parade by the World's End and Cremorne estates, an area ranked in the bottom decile for deprivation according to Government data. Unlike the affluent shops found elsewhere on King's Road, this parade is a vital hub for essential services, housing a pharmacy, a bakery, a GP clinic, and a laundrette.
Rohit Kotecha, a Director of the local pharmacy established since the mid-1980s, echoed the concerns about viability. "We are not Sloane Square... There's no way we can command those high prices," he said. "Technically we serve the community at the back... Those people need services for the community."
In response, a spokesperson for Kensington and Chelsea Council defended the proposed increases for four of the 19 premises. They stated the council "must strike a balance between supporting local business and ensuring we are getting a reasonable return for taxpayers on their money."
The council argued that the income helps fund vital services for vulnerable people and that all businesses involved have had independent surveyors review the proposals, who reportedly agree they are reasonable. They also noted that the increases for two businesses were delayed due to a temporary postponement of rent rises in 2020 during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Political Outcry and Wider Impacts
The situation has drawn criticism from local MP Ben Coleman, the Labour MP for Chelsea and Fulham. He called the 200 per cent rent increase for the local dentist "obscene".
"It shocks me that councillors are threatening the future of shops and health services which serve the entire community, including many people living on very low incomes," Mr Coleman said. "If he has to stop doing NHS work, this will hit residents of all backgrounds."
The council maintains that the rent reviews are part of normal contractual agreements, usually set for three to five years, which provide tenants with long-term certainty. However, for the small businesses and essential health services on this particular parade, the proposed new rates threaten to fundamentally alter their ability to serve a community that relies on them.
