Tenants at Wedgwood House in London are being driven into debt by a communal heating system that forces them to pay soaring bills even during heatwaves, with costs jumping up to 350%. The building, a 15-minute walk from Westminster Bridge, uses a centralised boiler to heat all 181 flats, leaving residents unable to control their own heating. Despite temperatures reaching 36°C, residents must screw radiators tightly off to avoid waste, yet still face sky-high charges.
Bills skyrocket after Ukraine invasion
Following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, energy costs for Wedgwood House tenants surged dramatically. Aida Haile, 55, who has lived there for 17 years, saw her weekly heating and hot water bill rise from £20 to £70 in 2023, with no breakdown provided. 'I felt sheer panic, there was no way I could afford it. I became depressed, and I stopped eating and sleeping,' she told Metro. Despite agreeing to a repayment plan, she says the debt remains insurmountable: 'No matter how much I pay, I am accumulating every week.'
Kirsty Oliveria, 58, experienced a 350% increase. 'I honestly thought they had got it wrong. Even during the dead of winter I only heat my son's bedroom,' she said. When she queried the bill, the council confirmed it was correct.
Heat networks bypass price cap
Because the energy costs are billed as a 'service charge', tenants are not protected by the energy price cap, leaving their annual bills more than double the cap. The Social Market Foundation estimates up to 900,000 households in the UK are on communal heating, including one in 12 social housing units. In 2024, Lambeth Council issued 801 eviction notices related to heat network debts, according to a Freedom of Information request.
Judicial review granted
Residents have united to challenge Lambeth Council, and a judicial review has been granted. Richard Clayton KC stated: 'I take the view that the Claimant's grounds are realistically arguable in a context where they raise wider issues and points of law of general public importance.' The Public Interest Law Centre filed the claims on behalf of the tenants. Lambeth Council declined to comment due to the ongoing case but previously stated possession hearings are a 'last resort' and that they work with residents on repayment plans.
Broader implications
This case highlights a systemic issue with heat networks, which are promoted as eco-friendly but can trap tenants in unaffordable debts. The outcome of the judicial review could set a precedent for thousands of similar households across the country.
