A housing block in Cricklewood where flats can cost more than £400,000 has the second most unreliable lifts in London

Windmill Court in Mapesbury Road, has been named and shamed by the London Fire Brigade after were called out to rescue residents 16 times in the last 12 months since last August.

A former council housing block, Windmill Court now contains private tenants and private leaseholders through the right-to-buy scheme.

A two-bed flat on the seventh floor is currently on the market for £345,000 and three-beds is estimated at £401,000.

Under existing rules the brigade charges owners of buildings £348 for non-emergency lift call outs after the third occasion.

However the charges can be waived at the brigade’s discretion if the owner has improved the maintenance of their lifts and provides effective engineer call out arrangements.

The brigade refused to disclose if Brent Housing Partnership (BHP), the organisation which manages Brent Council’s housing stock, had been billed £4,988 for the last year.

The dodgiest lift in London is in Barking and Dagenham where crews were called out 22 calls time.

A BHP spokesman said they had been working closely with the brigade and residents to resolve issues with the lifts which has resulted in a reduction in breakdowns.

He added: “We have also appointed a contractor to carry out a full lift refurbishment programme, and the first lift is due to be replaced next month with the second a few weeks after that. This will make a big difference to local residents.”