Luxury London Flats Ban Food Delivery Riders Amid Security Row

Under the new rules, security and concierge staff will refuse entry to takeaway couriers, though grocery delivery services such as Ocado and Tesco will continue to be admitted at residents’ discretion. Parkgate Aspen claimed feedback on the move had been “overwhelmingly positive,” citing previous complaints of antisocial behaviour, including riders relieving themselves in stairwells and tailgating into buildings.

Not all residents agreed. One leaseholder described the measure as an “arbitrary ban” and linked it to wider anti-migrant sentiment, warning of “the pernicious knock-on effects of asylum seeker hysteria.”

Delivery companies strongly rejected the claims made by management. A Deliveroo spokesperson said the firm had a “zero-tolerance approach” to illegal working, while Just Eat stressed the “vast majority” of its couriers were fully registered and legally permitted to work. Uber Eats highlighted the use of video and ID verification to prevent misuse.

Parkgate Aspen defended its stance, insisting plans for restricting access had been in place since January but were accelerated after protests at the Britannia hotel. Meanwhile, police have confirmed that claims of asylum seekers working as couriers from the hotel are unfounded.