The closed launderette was set up 1992 by volunteers as a way to battle mould and damp issues in their flats.
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The closure of the Shoreditch launderette, which took place on 9 February, has left those that worked there and the wider boundary estate community shocked.
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Boundary Estate Community Launderette has served its community for over two decades. Now, the doors are closed and the locks are changed after Tower Hamlets council shut down the premise.
Lyla McAlister, who works in the café opposite the laundrette believes that it served the community a lot more than simply washing and drying clothes.
“It’s a disasters, we’ve done our laundry there for 21 years! There have been so many occasions where I have seen the employees ( of the laundrette) help out the community.”
The non for profit laundry closed after being issued with a section 25 notice on the 23rd of July. Meaning that if the council hadn’t received a response they can legally repurpose a property.
For community members like Lyla McAlister the situation has caused unhappiness with a petition being set up for people to add their name to the list of over 700 against the laundrettes closure.
The laundry closed after being issued with a section 25 notice on the 23rd of July. Residents have campaigned since to have it reopened. Credit: Jonathan Moberly
In response, Elsa Baxter, senior communications officer for Tower Hamlets council provided a statement to City News.
“We are seeking to balance our obligation to get the best value for Tower Hamlets’ residents with a desire to make rents sustainable for businesses.”
“We strongly encourage them to contact us”
The council also state that they initiated the lease renewal process in July 2023, but since then they have:
“Not had any contact from the tenants since issuing the notice and strongly encourage them to contact us so we can begin a discussion.”
But vice chair of the Boundary Tenants and Residents Association, Jonathan Moberly disputes that, that letter was ever read by the laundrette employees.
“We managed to get proof of delivery from the postman that we got the letter, but we never received it and they never sent a follow up.”
Vice chair of the Boundary Tenants and Residents Association, Jonathan Moberly hopes to reopen the laundrette as soon as possible with a tenancy at will agreement. Credit: Rufus Jones
Jonathan further disputes the councils claims that they have not received any communication about their decision to close the premises.
“I had a meeting with the councillors that evening and on the Tuesday ( 13th Feb) we had a meeting with asset management at the council.”
“The laundrette can’t pay that”
The council in their terms for lease renewal were asking for a sixfold rent increase with one year’s rent paid in advance of the laundry’s reopening Jonathan says.
For him, that steep a rent increase would not be possible for the non-for profit laundrette.
“This is such a huge rent increase of course the laundrette can’t pay that”.
Online petitions have been set up by residents, calling for the council to grant a temporary tenancy to allow the laundrette to resume operations. Credit: Rufus Jones
Jonathan is trying to get three things to happen.
First, reopen the laundrette as soon as possible with a ‘tenancy at will’ agreement that will allow the laundry service to reopen temporarily. Second for the case to be moved to the portfolio of community premises. Lastly, for the council to talk openly about community benefit rent reductions.
Without the laundrette reopening Jonathan fears that a disconnect between the council and the tower hamlets community will grow.
“The council are trying to monetise their assets. It’s going to create a disconnect between who the shops are for and who the estate is for.”
Tower Hamlets Council have since specified that the lack of communication that they reference in their statement is regarding formal responses to their original notice, not a lack of communication in general.
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Standfirst
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HeadlineCommunity opposes Tower Hamlets after closure of local laundrette
Short HeadlineCommunity laundrette shut down by Tower Hamlets council
StandfirstBoth the council and the laundrette are disputing over how much warning was given before the abrupt closure.
The closure of the Shoreditch launderette, which took place on 9 February, has left those that worked there and the wider boundary estate community shocked.
Listen to this article – powered by AI:
Boundary Estate Community Launderette has served its community for over two decades. Now, the doors are closed and the locks are changed after Tower Hamlets council shut down the premise.
Lyla McAlister, who works in the café opposite the laundrette believes that it served the community a lot more than simply washing and drying clothes.
“It’s a disasters, we’ve done our laundry there for 21 years! There have been so many occasions where I have seen the employees ( of the laundrette) help out the community.”
The non for profit laundry closed after being issued with a section 25 notice on the 23rd of July. Meaning that if the council hadn’t received a response they can legally repurpose a property.
For community members like Lyla McAlister the situation has caused unhappiness with a petition being set up for people to add their name to the list of over 700 against the laundrettes closure.
The laundry closed after being issued with a section 25 notice on the 23rd of July. Residents have campaigned since to have it reopened. Credit: Jonathan Moberly
In response, Elsa Baxter, senior communications officer for Tower Hamlets council provided a statement to City News.
“We are seeking to balance our obligation to get the best value for Tower Hamlets’ residents with a desire to make rents sustainable for businesses.”
“We strongly encourage them to contact us”
The council also state that they initiated the lease renewal process in July 2023, but since then they have:
“Not had any contact from the tenants since issuing the notice and strongly encourage them to contact us so we can begin a discussion.”
But vice chair of the Boundary Tenants and Residents Association, Jonathan Moberly disputes that, that letter was ever read by the laundrette employees.
“We managed to get proof of delivery from the postman that we got the letter, but we never received it and they never sent a follow up.”
Vice chair of the Boundary Tenants and Residents Association, Jonathan Moberly hopes to reopen the laundrette as soon as possible with a tenancy at will agreement. Credit: Rufus Jones
Jonathan further disputes the councils claims that they have not received any communication about their decision to close the premises.
“I had a meeting with the councillors that evening and on the Tuesday ( 13th Feb) we had a meeting with asset management at the council.”
“The laundrette can’t pay that”
The council in their terms for lease renewal were asking for a sixfold rent increase with one year’s rent paid in advance of the laundry’s reopening Jonathan says.
For him, that steep a rent increase would not be possible for the non-for profit laundrette.
“This is such a huge rent increase of course the laundrette can’t pay that”.
Online petitions have been set up by residents, calling for the council to grant a temporary tenancy to allow the laundrette to resume operations. Credit: Rufus Jones
Jonathan is trying to get three things to happen.
First, reopen the laundrette as soon as possible with a ‘tenancy at will’ agreement that will allow the laundry service to reopen temporarily. Second for the case to be moved to the portfolio of community premises. Lastly, for the council to talk openly about community benefit rent reductions.
Without the laundrette reopening Jonathan fears that a disconnect between the council and the tower hamlets community will grow.
“The council are trying to monetise their assets. It’s going to create a disconnect between who the shops are for and who the estate is for.”
Tower Hamlets Council have since specified that the lack of communication that they reference in their statement is regarding formal responses to their original notice, not a lack of communication in general.
