Latest news with #WayofLife
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
'Lives at stake' in tower block with broken lifts
Residents in a noted brutalist tower block in east London have been stranded in their homes after the 26-storey building's two lifts stopped working. The Grade II listed Balfron Tower in Poplar has 146 flats and maisonettes, and is managed by property management company Way of Life, which has said it is investigating the situation. Some disabled people had "no option" but to leave their homes, neighbours said, because there was no safe way to get in and out. One resident, Peter, who posted on social media about the problem, said Way for Life had told him to remove his comment or the company would stop helping him get supplies into the building. Peter, 58, who did not want to give his surname, cannot use the stairs because of a spinal injury. He said he knew other tenants who were avoiding using the lifts - when they worked - because they were fearful of them breaking down. He said he was concerned about safety and that "lives were at stake here". "What if there is an emergency? What if I have a heart attack? Anyone who can't use the stairs will be in great danger," he said. Another resident, 22-year-old Vasundhata Gupte, has been forced to climb 15 flights of stairs with a hamstring injury when she returns from medical appointments. Ms Gupte said she had asked Way for Life about what to do during an emergency and was told they "did not have an answer". Sophie Ruston can use the stairs - but has to carry her elderly dog up and down to her 21st floor flat. One lift has been out of order for a week and the other is "temperamental", residents said. When the second lift broke down, Ms Ruston said "chaos ensued". She added the situation meant she would finish a 10-hour night shift, during which she was on her feet, and was faced with climbing another 21 flights when she got home. Way of Life provided a service while both lifts were broken where essential supplies were taken to stranded residents. A spokesperson said the company had apologised to Peter, and added that "the behaviour outlined to us is very disappointing and absolutely does not reflect the values and conduct to which we aspire as a business". A number of staff based in the tower had been temporarily removed while the allegations were being investigated, Way of Life said. The Balfron Tower was designed by Hungarian-born architect Ernő Goldfinger in 1963 and was built between 1965 and 1967 as part of the Brownfield Estate, an area of social housing. Way of Life runs a number of residential blocks in London and elsewhere. It currently has eight apartments available for long-term rental at Balfron Tower, ranging from £2,050 per month for a one-bed flat to £3,850 for a three-bedroom home. Listen to the best of BBC Radio London on Sounds and follow BBC London on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to Council 'sorry' for tower block lift faults Over 100 London tower blocks may have safety issues Disabled man carried to flat after lift broke down
Times
21-05-2025
- Health
- Times
Residents stranded in tower block for a week after lifts break down
Residents of a 27-storey tower block in east London, who have been effectively trapped in their homes for a week after both of its lifts failed, have accused its management of allowing 'inhumane' conditions. Since the lifts at Balfron Tower, a brutalist landmark in Poplar, broke down last Tuesday, residents with health conditions and mobility issues said they have struggled to access food and medication and to discard rubbish. Peter Yu, 58, has not left his flat on the 15th floor for a week. He suffers from serious spinal injuries and could not collect food deliveries or walk his boxer, Bee, who has gone 'stir crazy'. He claimed that the building management company, Way of Life, had promised a door-to-door delivery service while the lifts
Metro
20-05-2025
- General
- Metro
People at iconic London tower 'trapped inhumanely inside' after lifts broke
Disabled and elderly people said they were left trapped 'inhumanely' in a 28-story building after their lifts stopped working. Residents living inside Balfron Tower, in Tower Hamlets, east London, were stuck inside their homes for nearly a week from May 13 after their lifts broke. The 26-storey Grade II-listed tower, which forms part of the Brownfield Estate and is managed by property firm Way of Life, has two lifts. Residents say one of the lifts works 'sporadically' while the second stopped working completely last week. Many said they found it 'physically impossible' to get up and down the hundreds of stairs and claimed they were not able to access the 24-hour assistance they were offered by building management. In an email sent to residents last Thursday, which seen by Metro, Way of Life said both of the lifts need fixing, with 'major components' required in both lifts, something that the company said was 'highly unusual'. It added: 'It is incredibly unfortunate that this has occurred across both lifts at the same time and for that we apologise. 'The on-site team, lift company, landlord and I have been doing everything we can to expedite the situation, however, we are still unsure of the exact length of time that the lifts will be out of service.' It added it could take a few days to fully fix rectify, which they understood 'was not welcome news.' The company has since added one has been turned on temporarily since yesterday afternoon using 'old parts'. Vasundhata Gupte, 22, told Metro she cannot walk up and down the stairs due to a serious hamstring injury. 'I am coming back from recovery sessions for my leg, but I then have to walk up 15 flights of stairs so what is even the point in trying to fix it. 'Way of Life emailed us and said to contact them if we need help with everyday tasks like grocery shopping, but I couldn't reach them on Saturday and I had to walk with my bad leg to go get them.' Another resident Peter, who only gave his first name, told Metro it feels 'suicidal' using the lift knowing it has only been temporarily fixed with older parts. The 58-year-old has a severe spinal injury, meaning he cannot use the stairs at all. He said: 'If fixing it temporarily was always an option, why did they only do this yesterday, when we have been without a lift for more than a week? 'What if there is a fire? What if I have a heart attack? Who will come and get me? Lives are at stake here. 'We don't know how to get help, we are at a loss.' He claimed he previously asked for help with his groceries, but once his food arrived he said 'the man downstairs on reception point blank refused to walk past the seventh floor'. While Metro was speaking to Peter, the building manager knocked on his flat door and asked him whether he knew who created the viral Reddit post, in which a number of residents desperately asked those online for advice on what to do. Sophie, who lives on the 21st floor, said she is capable of walking up and down the stairs but needs to carry her 14-year-old dog every time to let it out to use the bathroom. She told Metro: 'Imagine finishing a 10 hour night shift, and having to walk up the 21st floor. 'My housemate has had to temporarily move out of the flat because he has mobility issues and he knows there is no way he can manage the stairs – it's the same with my friend on the 24th floor.' A spokesperson for Way of Life told Metro: 'We are aware of the situation with the lifts at Balfron Tower that has impacted residents and can confirm that the service has been restored. Despite regular maintenance and servicing, this issue was caused by a component failure. 'The London Fire Brigade were notified immediately, and an increased service was offered to residents on all floors, in particular for those with additional needs. We apologise for the frustration and distress this has caused.' More Trending Metro has contacted Way of Life for further comment. The Brutalist block was designed by esteemed architect Ernö Goldfinger and completed in the early 1960s. It is owned by housing association company Poplar Harca and house builder Telford Homes. It contains 146 flats, which were refurbished in 2019, and contains a mixture of social housing and private rentals. A two-bedroom flat can cost £2,300 per month to rent. Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page. MORE: Lucy Connolly loses appeal against racial hatred tweet sentence MORE: Signal system meltdown causes severe delays on London Underground lines MORE: Mum of musician stabbed to death in London calls on new approach to tackling knife crime
