Residents are relying on the building’s only other working lift, but are worried it’s also reaching the end of its life because it is also prone to breaking down
A resident who lives with respiratory issues at a 19-storey tower block in South London say he feels like a “prisoner in [his] own building” because of a broken lift which has not worked since early 2025.
People living at Amesbury Tower on Wandsworth Road, Lambeth, have relied on the building’s only other working lift which serves the even floors after the lift serving the odd numbered floors reportedly broke down in February 2025.
Residents are worried the building’s only working lift is also reaching the end of its life because they say it is also prone to frequently breaking down.
Many of the residents, including elderly ones, those with health conditions, and young families, have to climb the stairs and hold on to the railings, and say it’s a “nightmare” when they are coming back with bags of shopping.
Tariq Naquy, who lives on the 19th floor and has respiratory issues, says he has to take a break every few flights of stairs just so he can catch his breath before carrying on with his journey.
Tariq told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS): “When there were two [lifts], you’re all right because if one has conked out, you’ve got the other one as backup.
“But when one has been out for [nearly two years] and you’re watching this other one conking out and showing the same symptoms as the other one; if they can’t repair that and that goes out and they can’t repair the other one either, then what happens to us at the top?”
He added: “When you see women with their children and you’re trying to jump in and help them out, you can see how vulnerable this situation is – you just feel like a prisoner or slave in your own building.”
Lambeth Council applied for permission to carry out the work to replace the lift in February 2026, however the Building Safety Regulator (BSR) reportedly extended the deadline to approve it by three times, adding 26 weeks in total.
The BSR oversees and approves building work for ‘higher-risk buildings’, which are seven storeys or more, at least 18 metres high and contain at least two residential units or are a hospital or care home.
The LDRS understands the council asked the BSR to fast-track its application as a matter of urgency, but the request was declined as the regulator did not consider the work to meet its criteria for an emergency.
A BSR spokesperson said further information as part of its assessment process was provided on October 30, and is being reviewed by a specialist registered inspector. Additionally, further specialist engineering support was commissioned on October 30 to help progress the application.
The BSR spokesperson said: “We are working to progress the application as quickly as possible while ensuring that all necessary building safety requirements are properly considered and that any proposed works meet the required standards.”
Ann Shew, who lives on the 15th floor and has osteoarthritis and spinal stenosis, said: “I’ve had three knee operations, so it’s a bit of a chore. Every time you use the stairs, it’s impacting.
“I had a knee replacement two years ago in 2024, and for the last few days it’s really been hurting because I’m constantly using the stairs.”
She added: “Every time there’s a lift breakdown, we have no one to contact, no one to fall back on.
“You’ve got to carry your shopping up the stairs, you’ve got disabled people who can’t get in or out, elderly people can’t leave their flats.”
Neil Salt of the Lambeth Conservatives has been supporting residents by demanding the BSR treat the lift works as an emergency matter.
He said: “This is a 60-year-old building. Inevitably, the lifts are going to go out of order.
“The one that’s working is getting double the amount of usage clearly because the other one is out of operation – so that’s another danger point.
“If anybody tries to hold the lift door open, that creates problems as well. And who’s not going to try and keep the lift door open if they’ve got lots of family members or are waiting for other people to come into the lift? So it’s a real struggle.”
A Lambeth Council spokesperson told the LDRS they hope to start the works early in the New Year once approval has been received from the BSR.
They said the council is working closely with contractors to ensure that the second operational lift remains in service and available to residents and have enlisted the help of their guardian service who are based on the estate to support any vulnerable residents.
A Lambeth Council spokesperson said: “The council is committed to replacing this lift, which is at the end of its life, and we are doing everything we can to complete the work required.
“We are aware of the difficulties caused by only having one working lift in this block, and we have apologised to residents for the inconvenience they have experienced as a result.”
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