Newcome House lift broken for seven weeks with no repair date
Hackney Council contractor awaits booking slot to fix motor and drive system at Lower Clapton block
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Only one named source and no independent corroboration.
Higher is stronger
Affected residents quoted but no right of reply from council beyond press statement.
Higher is stronger
Headline overstates emotional tone without adding substantiation.
Lower is better
Residents of Newcome House, a council block on Powell Road in Lower Clapton, have been without a working lift for more than seven weeks. Hackney Council’s contractor, Guideline, is still awaiting a booking slot to repair the lift’s motor and drive system. The council has not provided a timeline for the work.
A resident with a spinal condition, who lives on the fourth floor, said climbing four flights of stairs daily is now affecting their physical and mental health. The resident, who asked not to be named, described the situation as a serious health and safety issue for everyone in the building.
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No updates since June
Hackney Council sent letters to residents on 22 June and 25 June. The second letter stated Guideline was waiting for a booking slot to carry out repairs. The resident said no further updates have been given since then.
After more than seven weeks without a functioning lift, I find the handling of this matter by Hackney Council and its contractors to be wholly unacceptable. The apparent lack of urgency in repairing such an essential service, coupled with the absence of meaningful communication, is deeply concerning.
Anonymous resident, Newcome House
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The council said it understands residents’ frustration. A spokesperson told the Hackney Citizen the lift broke down after a leak in the machine room ceiling. The council is working with Guideline to resolve the issue as quickly as possible but has not confirmed when the lift will be fixed.
Previous breakdown and complaints
In June, a resident was trapped in the same lift for 40 minutes, hours after engineers had carried out repairs. The council later confirmed the breakdown was caused by a recurring fault. No notice was put up to warn residents the lift was still faulty.
The resident lodged a formal complaint about the quality of the repair, maintenance standards and safety procedures. They are seeking compensation for distress and repeated service failures. If the complaint is not resolved, they said they will take it to the Housing Ombudsman.
Council’s £24 million lift programme
Hackney Council said all its managed lifts are checked monthly. It is spending £24 million to renew or replace 120 lifts across the borough. The first phase, covering 41 priority lifts, began in June and is due to finish by February 2027. Newcome House is not listed among the priority sites.
Residents needing help while the lift is out of order can contact the council on 020 8356 3330 or email neighbourhood@hackney.gov.uk. The council said it will continue to update residents until the lift is repaired.
Questions this report answers
+How long has the Newcome House lift been broken?
The lift at Newcome House on Powell Road has been out of service for over seven weeks. Hackney Council’s contractor is awaiting a booking slot to repair the motor and drive system, with no confirmed date for the work.
+What is Hackney Council doing to fix the lift?
Hackney Council said it is working with its contractor, Guideline, to repair the lift as quickly as possible. The council has not provided a timeline for the work but said it will continue to update residents until the lift is fixed.
+How much is Hackney Council spending on lift repairs?
Hackney Council is spending £24 million to renew or replace 120 lifts across the borough. The first phase, covering 41 priority lifts, began in June and is due to finish by February 2027. Newcome House is not part of this phase.
+What can residents do if they need help while the lift is broken?
Residents needing assistance can contact Hackney Council on 020 8356 3330 or email neighbourhood@hackney.gov.uk. The council said it will provide updates until the lift is repaired.
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