Flooded traders wait for Thames Water compensation
Some Islington shops remain closed six months after a burst water pipe destroyed their business.
**Businesses Await Compensation Six Months After North London Flood**
Six months after a burst water pipe caused extensive damage to homes and businesses in north London, some shops remain shuttered as owners struggle to secure compensation from Thames Water.
Mohamad Zakaria, owner of Zaks Tailoring, stated he has not received any compensation from Thames Water, despite his shop being empty and all basement items destroyed. "It's really, really difficult," he said, explaining he pays rent and wages out of pocket.
Eleni Lasheen, who owns a beauty salon on Caledonian Road, described the experience as "one of the worst I've ever been through." She added, "To them it's just an insurance spreadsheet. To us it's our livelihood, it's our business." Lasheen's salon, which reopened in May, lost customers and she reported that late payments from Thames Water have negatively impacted her credit rating.
Islington Council reports that approximately 40% of businesses that filed claims have not received any financial assistance from the water company since the February incident. Council leader Una O'Halloran criticized Thames Water's response, stating, "It's disgusting they haven't got their act together." She added, "We just want them to pay out. It's actually their duty."
Thames Water stated that its insurance claims handlers are actively working with affected businesses to expedite cases "as quickly as possible." A spokesperson acknowledged that some businesses may be "frustrated by the duration of the process" and affirmed that they are monitoring progress to ensure claims are handled "fairly and consistently."
Out of 48 business claims submitted to Thames Water, only eight have been fully settled, and roughly 40% have not received interim payments. This situation adds to recent negative publicity for Thames Water, which recently paid its finance chief a £1 million signing-on fee amidst significant debt and the threat of temporary nationalization. Last month, a council leader also criticized the company's response to a major water outage as causing "unacceptable inconvenience and distress."
For some traders on Caledonian Road, the uncertainty persists regarding when, or if, they will be able to resume their businesses.