Kensington tenants without washing machines for four months

Residents at 26 to 28 Queen's Gate Terrace in Kensington have been without washing machine facilities for four months. The lack of laundry services began in May 2026, coinciding with Bridgepoint Management taking over the day-to-day running of the building. This situation has led to increased costs for tenants, with one resident reporting spending up to £100 per month on external laundry services.

Property handover issues

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The laundry facilities were reportedly removed by the previous management firm, London Living, in May 2026. Bridgepoint Management, which assumed control in mid-May, has stated that the previous operators removed the facilities without the freeholder's permission. Tenants claim Bridgepoint initially refused to reinstate laundry services, citing that they were not part of the written tenancy agreement. However, Kensington and Chelsea Council's minimum standards mandate that large Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) must be equipped with laundry facilities.

Corinne Posner, a resident at the property, told the Local Democracy Reporting Service that the ongoing issues, including the lack of cooking and laundry facilities and the disposal of her food, have severely impacted her mental health. She stated she had not had washing machines for four months and experienced "panic attack on panic attack" since Bridgepoint took over.

Licensing and eviction concerns

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Bridgepoint Management has applied for an HMO licence for the property. Tenants have expressed a desire for Kensington and Chelsea Council to reject this application due to the persistent lack of laundry facilities and the stress caused by the management's handling of the transition. Ms Posner received an eviction notice in July 2026 after withholding rent for May, seeking a 50 percent reduction due to the missing amenities. She has since paid the outstanding rent.

Further issues raised by residents include a ban on overnight guests, which Bridgepoint states are "reasonable house rules" for security. One resident, Lucy, also reported that photographs of her bedroom, including personal belongings, were uploaded to the website SpareRoom without her consent. Bridgepoint has since removed the advertisement, attributing it to an error.

Management response

A spokesperson for Bridgepoint Management stated that the company assumed management in early 2026 and inherited "significant compliance, security and maintenance issues" from London Living Group Limited. The company claims to have been working with the freeholder on a substantial programme of upgrades, including fire safety, electrical, and communal facilities. Bridgepoint added that eviction notices were issued following legal advice regarding rent arrears and were not related to facility issues or rent reduction requests. The company is actively engaging with Kensington and Chelsea Council regarding the HMO licensing process.

Bridgepoint stated that replacement laundry equipment has been sourced and that prospective residents are informed about the arrangements for these facilities. Residents claim that neither Wi-Fi nor a communal cleaner were reinstated until the summer.