Residents report days without water at new block
Dozens of tenants at Cumberland House in Kingston were left without running water over the weekend after the London Fire Brigade (LFB) shut down the supply to address a leak, prompting sharp criticism from residents who say they felt ignored by the council during the heatwave.
According to residents, water was turned off on Friday and did not return until around 3pm on Sunday. The block, described as newly occupied, houses families including elderly and disabled tenants who, residents say, struggled without the ability to wash, flush toilets or carry out basic household tasks in high temperatures.
Conflicting accounts of on-site support
One tenant told Nub News they had been moved into the building after years in what they described as unsafe council housing and said communication from the authority fell short. They claimed the council knew about a leak earlier in the week but refused emergency works, alleging that households went the entire weekend without a working supply. The resident also said language barriers left some neighbours unsure of what was happening.
“The council have ignored all calls from tenants and gave no warning or advice... It’s a heatwave. We can’t wash, wash up, do laundry, flush toilets etc. There are several elderly and disabled tenants... They’ve refused emergency works, leaving 42 flats/families with no water.”
The Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames offered a different account, stating that LFB isolated the water supply on safety grounds following a report of a leak late on Friday. The council said the building’s system is linked to the fire alarms and sprinklers and required a full reset to verify that all sensors and safety systems were functioning properly before water could be restored.
A council spokesperson said staff and contractors were on site throughout the weekend, delivering bottled water and arranging temporary facilities while works continued. Residents who spoke to Nub News disputed seeing staff present.
Safety systems cited; water restored Sunday
In its statement, the council said the water was brought back on line on Sunday afternoon after those checks were completed.
“Following the report of a water leak on Friday night, the London Fire Brigade attended Cumberland House. To manage any risk, LFB shut down the water supply which meant some properties in the block were left without water. The system is connected to the fire alarms and sprinklers and needed a full reset to ensure all sensors and systems were working correctly. Water supply was restored on Sunday afternoon.”
The authority added that it is conducting a review of the incident and that work continues to fix the original leak.
Heatwave conditions heighten concerns
The interruption came during a period of hot weather, compounding health and wellbeing worries among residents. Access to water for drinking, hygiene and cooling is critical during high temperatures, particularly for people with health conditions or mobility needs. One resident cited the impact on their disabled child and said neighbours had to make repeated shop runs to buy extra water for vulnerable households.
The council said it delivered supplies of cold water to residents while the supply was off. Tenants said a late-night delivery amounted to two litres per flat, which they felt was inadequate for families over a multi-day outage in hot conditions.
What we know so far
- Friday: LFB attended Cumberland House following a report of a leak and shut down the water supply as a safety measure.
- Saturday: Residents say they remained without water, with limited bottled water delivered; some report no visible presence from council staff.
- Sunday (~3pm): The council says systems were reset and water was restored; work to fix the leak continues.
| Location | Issue | Agency action | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cumberland House, Kingston | Water supply isolated during leak investigation | LFB shut supply; council cites safety system reset; bottled water and temporary facilities reported | Water restored Sunday afternoon; review underway |
Next steps and resident questions
While supply has returned, questions remain about the speed of the response, the adequacy of interim support and communication with tenants, especially those who may face language or accessibility barriers. The council has said it will review the handling of the incident. Residents are urging clearer updates and contingency planning in the event of future outages, particularly during periods of extreme heat.
Anyone affected who still has concerns about water quality, continuing leaks or building safety systems can raise issues directly with the council’s housing team. In emergencies, residents should continue to call 999; for non-emergency building issues linked to safety systems, the London Fire Brigade advises contacting your building manager or local authority to ensure proper coordination when life-safety systems are involved.
