Residents trapped for a week after lift failure in iconic East London tower block

Key points:

• Residents in Balfron Tower, Poplar, were trapped in their flats for nearly a week due to lift failures.
• Both lifts in the 26-storey Grade II-listed building broke down, affecting disabled and elderly residents most severely.
• One resident, Peter Yu, with a spinal cord injury, was confined to his flat for days with only frozen leftovers.
• Student Vasundhara Gupte missed lectures due to her inability to manage the stairs with a hamstring injury.
• Campaigners and local MP Apsana Begum raised urgent concerns about resident safety and management.
• Allegations surfaced that residents were threatened with the withdrawal of support if they posted complaints online.
• The London Fire Brigade was notified, but fire safety fears remain due to the building’s design and inaccessibility.
• Property managers Way of Life say they are offering increased support and working on repairs.
• As reported by Bill Bowkett of The Standard, residents have called the situation a “death trap.”

Residents of Balfron Tower in East London were left trapped in their homes for almost a week following the breakdown of both lifts in the 26-storey building — an outage that has especially impacted people with disabilities and sparked serious fire safety concerns.

What caused the lift failures at Balfron Tower?

As reported by Bill Bowkett of The Standard, the incident began when one of the lifts in the brutalist tower block became “temperamental” and the other ceased to function altogether last week. The failure forced residents, including those with medical conditions, to climb as many as 15 storeys using stairs or remain isolated in their flats.

Built in 1967 and designed by Ernő Goldfinger, Balfron Tower was transferred from Tower Hamlets Council to Poplar Harca in 2007. The building is currently managed by property company Way of Life.

How have residents been affected by the lift breakdown?

Residents described the impact as both physical and emotional. Vasundhara Gupte, a 22-year-old student at Queen Mary University, told Metro, cited in The Standard, that she has missed classes and remained confined in her flat due to a 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.”

Peter Yu, aged 58, who lives on the 15th floor and suffers from a spinal cord injury, shared his experience with The Standard:

“It is excruciatingly painful… What if there is a fire? What if I have a heart attack? Who will come and get me? Lives are at stake here.”

Yu also said he had not taken his dog Bee outside for over a week and was surviving on frozen food.

What have officials said about the situation?

Poplar and Limehouse MP Apsana Begum told The Standard she had received multiple complaints and was “very concerned by reports of poor management at Balfron Tower.”

She stated:

“This situation demonstrates the systemic barriers disabled people face in being able to live in safe and accessible housing. Meeting disabled people’s basic housing needs and ensuring dignity must become a higher priority for all.”

Were there any allegations made against building management?

According to residents and as cited by The Standard, management at Balfron Tower allegedly attempted to silence complaints. Some tenants claimed they were told that support would be withdrawn unless social media posts about the lift failures were removed.

Al McClenahan, from the campaign group Justice for Tenants, was quoted by The Standard saying:

“Those managing Balfron Tower have a legal duty to ensure the safety of their residents. If a fire broke out, it seems likely or even possible that disabled residents who cannot evacuate via the stairs would die in the fire.”

He continued:

“It must be horrible to feel trapped in a building, unable to go outside, enjoy the weather, travel to the shops or work, because both lifts are out of action—it is something that should be fixed with urgency.”

What was the management’s response to the crisis?

Way of Life, the company managing Balfron Tower, issued a statement quoted by The Standard, acknowledging the severity of the incident:

“We recognise the frustration and distress this has caused residents. We are working to restore the lift service as quickly as possible.”

The company said it had notified the London Fire Brigade and was offering additional support to residents, particularly those with disabilities.

“This includes support with food deliveries and additional security on site. We will deal with all questions and complaints from residents directly with them.”

It remains unclear when the lifts will be fully restored.

How does this relate to previous incidents in London?

This is not the first time East London high-rises have faced lift breakdown controversies. In 2018, residents in Jute Court, Barking, were left with unreliable lifts for months, prompting protests and apologies from the local council. Similarly, in 2021, tenants in Arlington House, Margate, endured six days without lift access.

These incidents have exposed systemic issues in high-rise social housing, where residents face isolation, health risks, and even danger in emergencies when critical infrastructure fails.

Why is Balfron Tower significant?

Balfron Tower is a symbol of post-war British architecture, often cited as a model of brutalist design. It’s also thought to have inspired J.G. Ballard’s dystopian novel High-Rise, which was adapted into a 2015 film starring Tom Hiddleston.

Its iconic status has not shielded it from practical failings, however. Despite its listing and historic value, tenants continue to deal with challenges common to many social housing blocks: lack of accessibility, delayed repairs, and management disputes.

Are fire safety risks now a serious concern?

With both lifts out of service — including the one designated for fire emergencies — residents fear the consequences of any fire breaking out. The London Fire Brigade has been informed, but campaigners like McClenahan say the response needs to be stronger:

“If a fire broke out, it is likely or even possible that disabled residents who cannot evacuate via the stairs would die in the fire.”

Such statements underline the potential breach of safety regulations and the urgent need for reforms in how emergency preparedness is managed in high-rise blocks.

A continuing crisis in high-rise housing?

The situation at Balfron Tower reflects broader concerns about housing inequality, infrastructure neglect, and the vulnerability of disabled and elderly tenants in poorly maintained high-rises. While investigations continue and repairs are promised, residents remain anxious — not only about getting out of their homes, but about what might happen if disaster strikes before they can.