Residents of Admiral Court, a new mixed-tenure block of flats in Croydon, south London, say they face financial ruin after living without gas, heating or hot water for six months due to dangerous gas leaks. Owners across the block's 65 flats have been forced to wash using buckets, camping showers or public swimming pool facilities, and fear their properties are now unsellable, with estate agents reportedly telling them the homes would be worth "next to nothing" on the market. The crisis has been worsened by a dispute over who is liable for repairs after the original developer went into administration, leaving residents caught between the freeholder, housing association, managing agents and developer.

The gas supply has been cut since around March 2025 after multiple leaks were detected, including in communal areas, with hot water lost since February. Resident Izabella Skrzypczak, 37, who paid a £211,000 lease with a £76,000 deposit, said she now showers at a gym and described the situation as leaving her "depressed", while fellow owner Martyn Oak, 41, who has a £150,000 mortgage, said the ordeal could leave him "financially ruined". Some residents are now considering joint legal action to ensure they are not left covering the cost of the remedial works themselves.