East London Residents Suffer Through Winter Without Basic Heating and Hot Water
Residents living in two East London housing blocks have revealed they have been left without reliable heating and hot water throughout the winter months, forcing them to resort to showering at local gyms and using potentially dangerous makeshift methods to stay warm.
Persistent Winter Problems in Bromley-by-Bow
Tenants at Hoey Court and Massey House in Bromley-by-Bow claim their landlords, housing association Peabody, have failed to resolve heating and hot water issues that began in September 2025. Residents report being supplied with blow heaters as a temporary solution rather than receiving permanent repairs to the communal heating system.
Kayo Anosike, who has lived in her flat since November 2018, told reporters this has been a recurring problem every winter since 2019. "Since November, I have been continuously calling them on phone lines with up to 30 minute call holds," she explained. "It is a communal heating problem, and a constant battle."
Frustrating Complaint Procedures and Safety Concerns
Ms Anosike described how complaints remain stuck at Stage 1 of Peabody's official procedure, preventing escalation to the housing ombudsman. She expressed frustration about paying mortgage, rent and service charges without receiving basic amenities. "What am I paying for? It's just terrible," she said.
The situation has led to serious health and safety concerns. Ms Anosike described suffering two consecutive colds since November, attributing this to sleeping and breathing in cold air. She also reported headaches from using fan heaters and described a near-miss accident when tripping while carrying boiling water for bathing.
Multiple Residents Affected by Heating Failures
Another resident, Ola, who has lived in the building since 2015 and suffers from severe asthma and back pain, reported her water has been "stone cold" since January 19. She expressed feeling insulted after being offered just £50 compensation initially, describing it as "a slap in the face."
Randy Amposta shared additional problems including a persistent leak that took almost two years to resolve, resulting in black mould spreading throughout their home. "Due to poor insulation and drafts during winter, we have been forced to rely heavily on heating, costing us around £40 every 10 days to two weeks," he explained, highlighting the additional financial strain.
Landlord and Builder Responses to the Crisis
A spokesperson for Peabody acknowledged the situation has been "frustrating for residents" and stated that "everyone should have reliable heating and hot water." They placed responsibility with the builders, Vistry, saying they are "pushing them to fix this once and for all as quickly as possible."
Vistry responded that they recognize "the disruption caused is not acceptable" and have maintained "a full-time presence on site since the beginning of January to monitor the system." They claim many issues have now been resolved with remaining problems being addressed as a priority.
Temporary Improvements Following Media Attention
Residents reported temporary improvements after their situation was featured on ITV in January. Ms Anosike noted her radiators came on for the first time and she had hot water in the kitchen, though not in the bathroom. Ola reported her water "did get a bit warm" but remained inconsistent.
The ongoing situation highlights broader concerns about housing conditions in London, particularly during winter months when reliable heating becomes essential for health and wellbeing.
