Sanctioned Oligarch's Abandoned Mansions Blight Exclusive Kensington Street
Discarded needles, piles of rubbish, and mounds of pigeon excrement are starkly out of place on the pristine, mansion-lined streets of Kensington. Yet for residents of Prince of Wales Terrace, where homes are worth millions, such sights have become an unwelcome norm due to two five-storey townhouses left to rot after being abandoned by their oligarch owner for nearly a decade.
A Tale of Neglect and Sanctions
David Davidovich, described as Roman Abramovich's right-hand man, purchased the properties in 2018 for £16 million. He planned to convert a run-down hotel into luxury flats, but after being sanctioned in 2022 following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the mansions were abandoned. The gleaming white paint has turned brown, windows are smashed, wires dangle precariously, and black mould creeps down stairs and pipes.
Sarah, a 78-year-old neighbour, told the Daily Mail: "It's an eyesore, pigeons s*** all over the place, there's rubbish everywhere, it's awful. The council said there's nothing we can do because it's owned, but since the owner's been sanctioned, they can't do it up." The properties have been boarded up since purchase, with upkeep made extremely difficult as sanctions prevent visiting, selling, or renting.
Impact on the Community and Property Values
The derelict mansions, overlooking Kensington Gardens, starkly contrast with the palatial homes surrounding them. Georgia Lamb, a local resident, noted: "It affects the aesthetic of the area. You have all these beautiful properties worth millions, and then you've got a building with smashed windows. I reckon there are people squatting and I wouldn't be surprised if there are drugs." Marie, from nearby Victoria Road, added: "It's such a pity in this kind of neighbourhood. I feel sorry for the people living right behind it. There is no security, and it looks abandoned."
Henry Sherwood, a buying agent, explained the broader issue: "Literally every street in Kensington and Chelsea has got one or two properties not used and in various states of repair. If you're trying to sell next to a derelict house, it's going to be a long wait. The Government will have to step in to protect other buildings." Camilla Dell, another buying agent, warned that such neglect devalues properties over time, affecting the ultra-high-net-worth market.
Political and Legal Stalemate
Mr Davidovich was sanctioned alongside Eugene Tenenbaum, with an estimated £10 billion in assets frozen to prevent funding Russia's war machine. Research from Transparency International UK found £238 million worth of property in Kensington and Chelsea bought by Russians accused of corruption or Kremlin links. Local MP Joe Powell has urged the government to manage the "unintended consequences of sanctions," highlighting increasing neglect.
Despite a new blockade suggesting possible work, warning signs remain, and rubbish continues to accumulate. The properties, numbers 18 and 19, were granted planning permission in 2022, but enforcement complaints have led the council to hold formal notices in abeyance. As Efrem Tekeste, a chauffeur, observed: "Homeless people come and sleep there, and the birds make a mess—it's quite awful." The situation leaves residents trapped, with no short-term solution in sight.
