The block in Herbert Street near Queen’s Crescent

A WHOLE block of flats has been left empty for four years, with residents questioning why a housing association has let this happen, amid a severe shortage of housing and long waiting lists for affordable homes.

Just off Queen’s Crescent, in Herbert Street, stands a four-storey block with a basement and five one-bedroom flats.

The block, owned by Riverside Housing Association, was built in the early 2000s and the New Journal understands the flats were used as supported living accommodation.

Metal hoarding and a large metal door now protect access to the derelict building and windows in the block are broken and shattered.

The block has been void of tenants since 2022, valuable one-bedroom properties that residents have said could have been brought back into use long ago.

The locked up doors in Herbert Street

Hugh Morris, who lives in Grafton Terrace, said he had been watching the flats with interest over the years.

He said: “It’s such a shame such valuable flats like this are empty. We talk a lot about families needing housing, but there are many elderly, single people also on the housing list too, who could benefit from a home like this. If flats of this size were available you could also more easily decant people living in bigger housing association homes that no longer need the space and there you have another family size home available. Things like that seem like common sense.

“In general, any housing, big or small, that is empty for such a long time like in this case is completely wrong.”

Tom Young, an architect who lives off the Crescent, said that for big housing associations with large property stocks, smaller properties like this were not an immediate “priority”.

He added: “These organisations operate according to a plan and that plan is not public. It guides their actions. It’s perfectly imaginable that five flats in a small building might be considered non-strategic by a large housing association group.”

The flats are situated on the same street as the Thanet Youth Community Centre, which has run activities for the community for over seven decades and has been based at Malden Hall in Herbert Street since 1969.

The block appears to have fallen into disrepair

Richard Atkins, Green ward councillor in nearby Gospel Oak, added: “This is a small block on a quiet residential street, opposite a community centre and within walking distance of good schools, shops and other amenities. People could be living here and contributing to the local community.

“At a time when nearly 8,000 households are waiting for social housing in Camden, every empty home matters. Bringing existing homes back into use is often quicker, less disruptive and more environmentally sustainable than relying solely on new development. It would also help reduce the pressure and cost of temporary accommodation.”

The block is owned by Riverside, which says structural issues are to blame

A Riverside spokesperson said: “We always want our homes to be safe, warm and of a good quality for the people who live in them.

“As part of our ongoing commitment to providing safe, warm and good quality housing, we identified structural issues at 29 Herbert Street. Assessments showed that the building required significant works to bring it up to the standards we expect for our homes.

“The scale and cost of those safety and improvement works meant that this was not a viable option. We also explored options for temporary use of the building. However, given its condition and the extent of works required, we were unable to identify a suitable temporary use. As a result, the property went through our internal options appraisal process and was marketed including to registered providers in 2025.

“We are in discussions with local providers regarding the property’s future. Any funds raised from a possible transfer will be reinvested in improving our existing homes and the services we provide to our customers.”