Residents of Luxury Chelsea Block Feel "Suffocated" by Four-Year Scaffolding Nightmare
Residents living in a £12 million apartment building on Chelsea's prestigious King's Road have described feeling "suffocated" and "trapped" in their own homes due to scaffolding that has remained in place for four years without removal. The structure was originally erected in 2022 to remove combustible cladding but has stayed up as additional building issues were discovered.
Living in Darkness and Extreme Heat
Wossen Tadesse, 62, and his 64-year-old partner, who have lived in the building since it opened, pay £1,190 monthly for their socially rented two-bedroom flat on the fourth floor. Wossen, who requires dialysis three times weekly due to kidney issues, reported that summer temperatures inside reach at least five degrees above outdoor levels.
"Not having fresh air, we always feel suffocated during summer. It's too hot, unbearable," Wossen explained. "It's too dark – you have to put the light on all the time during the daytime."
Privacy Concerns and Financial Burden
Residents on lower floors face construction bars across their windows, while those on the fifth and sixth floors have been evacuated and cannot return home. The scaffolding has created significant privacy issues, with builders constantly passing windows.
Wossen's partner described the discomfort: "They don't actually look in, but you don't feel comfortable about moving. If you want to walk in shorts, or if you're half-dressed, you can't do that in the daytime – you have to be careful."
Financial pressures have mounted alongside the physical discomfort. One 46-year-old hairdresser who purchased a quarter share of her one-bedroom flat through shared ownership ten years ago has seen service charges and rent more than double from £291.51 in 2016 to £664.10 starting this April – now exceeding her £525 monthly mortgage payment.
Additional Disruptions and Safety Concerns
Beyond the scaffolding, residents report builders regularly entering their homes to take photographs, while a recently installed bright-orange sprinkler system pipe makes them feel like they "live in a warehouse." Wossen lost hundreds of pounds worth of outdoor plants that died when balcony access was restricted.
Kingsgate House, completed in 2014 with 43 homes across six floors and solar panels for eco-friendliness, is owned and managed by housing association Peabody. The company acknowledged the prolonged disruption in a statement.
Management Response and Timeline
"We're very sorry that this has taken much longer than expected and for the impact this has had on residents," a Peabody spokesperson said. "We know how difficult it is to live with this level of disruption, and we don't underestimate how challenging it has been."
The company explained that removing the cladding revealed additional issues requiring correction to ensure homes meet safety standards. Peabody hopes to complete all work by 2027 and maintains regular communication with residents while promising to share clearer timelines when available.
The Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea confirmed minimal involvement, having received only one complaint about a broken lift in February. The authority noted that as a registered housing association, maintenance responsibility falls to Peabody, though residents can report issues to environmental health teams for investigation.
