London Borough of Tower Hamlets, Town Hall

179 reviews

160 Whitechapel Rd, London E1 1BJ, United Kingdom

www.towerhamlets.gov.uk

+442073645000

About

London Borough of Tower Hamlets, Town Hall is a City Hall located at 160 Whitechapel Rd, London E1 1BJ, United Kingdom. It has received 179 reviews with an average rating of 2.6 stars.

Photos

Hours

MondayClosed
TuesdayClosed
Wednesday9AM-5PM
Thursday9AM-5PM
Friday9AM-5PM
Saturday9AM-5PM
Sunday9AM-5PM

F.A.Q

Frequently Asked Questions

  • The address of London Borough of Tower Hamlets, Town Hall: 160 Whitechapel Rd, London E1 1BJ, United Kingdom

  • London Borough of Tower Hamlets, Town Hall has 2.6 stars from 179 reviews

  • City Hall

  • "It is rare that I will write a review online, but after my experience so far of living in TH council I felt compelled to warn everyone how utterly useless the council is - just like 99% of the other reviews on here state"

    "I am highly disappointed with the way this council works"

    "Yeah"

    "I must say I have been pleasantly surprised this morning after talking to a council advisor"

    "No point to go there as they cant do nothing just give u phone number to call My case worker on holiday her manager asking me whn she come back what a joke 5 month cant sort out send deposit and rent to landlord after provide everything they ask I take council to court damaging my mental health with they dont care attitude holding phone hours waiting for answer and line just cut off after answer all days weeks months on phone without any solution Jobcenter did all change in a weeks council cant do in 5month and they get paid Worst service in my entire life Big shame on all"

Reviews

  • Ed Ball

It is rare that I will write a review online, but after my experience so far of living in TH council I felt compelled to warn everyone how utterly useless the council is - just like 99% of the other reviews on here state. I have been living in TH council for 5 weeks now and have been trying to apply for a parking permit since day 1. After submitting an initial permit request it was declined as my drivers license didn't have my new local address on it. Fair enough, so I requested a new license with the relevant address which was sent through 2-weeks later. I submitted a new request for a resident permit with all of the required details; copy of license, parking application doc and a copy of my V5C. After another week of waiting I received an automated email stating my application had once again been rejected because "your paper permit is still valid until it expires"... I have not received a permit from the council and have had no further context shared.... After then spending an hour on the phone getting pushed around various automated phone lines I eventually got through to someone who a) couldn't look up details of any of my applications and b) couldn't put me through to anyone in the parking permits team as it seems no one actually works there. This person instructed me to email the permits team again (which takes another 5 days to hear back on) and I am now still waiting for a reply. My car is currently parked over an hour away and I have been waiting 5 weeks to sort something that every other council seems to be able to do with ease. I've tried calling the council again to talk to someone who can help, but once again have been sent through various automated messages and the person I then got through to decided to hang up instead of helping. I can't stress this enough - Tower Hamlets council are USELESS. Avoid them like the plague!!! I would vote this 0 stars if it was an option

  • Nikita Arora

I am highly disappointed with the way this council works. There old office near east India docks actually had employees working. No one answers the phone. The reception says they cannot contact a specific department. They don't give receipts for submitted forms. My child's school admission is at stake due to this. Expected more considering the hefty council tax I pay every month. The service was better earlier. Edit: After several visits to the council I did finally meet a representative who was extremely nice and helpful. I have forgotten her name. She contacted the admissions department over teams and then phone call too. I did wait there for almost an hour but I got the confirmation that my form had been received. They completed the admissions work and notified me timely. Hence changed the rating from 1 to 3 solely because of the lady who ensured that I got what I needed. The council does need improvement though.

  • Simon Brooke

Yeah. Quite unbelievably atrocious. Services are simply unavailable - I've been trying to book a bulky waste collection every day, multiple times a day for about a MONTH. Nobody will answer the phone, nobody will reply to an email. Booking a basic service has become a part time job. Impossible to talk to anyone about anything. Expect to be bounced around a bunch of recorded messages and then sent online, which is the place you originally couldn't find the help you were looking for. Don't expect email to work either. You'll get an auto response telling you to expect a reply within 3 working days and NEVER hear from anyone ever.

  • Kuda Madzikanda

I must say I have been pleasantly surprised this morning after talking to a council advisor. I read the reviews and all negative and was worried I may have the same experience. My issue pertained to a parking fine as a key worker and I was able to get through in under 5 minutes after navigating the automated system and the guy was helpful and gave me the information I needed and was polite and professional throughout. I want to reassure those feeling skeptical and apprehensive about calling the Council that there are still some good advisors out there. Sorry to all those who have had an awful experience

  • King Halihomano

No point to go there as they cant do nothing just give u phone number to call My case worker on holiday her manager asking me whn she come back what a joke 5 month cant sort out send deposit and rent to landlord after provide everything they ask I take council to court damaging my mental health with they dont care attitude holding phone hours waiting for answer and line just cut off after answer all days weeks months on phone without any solution Jobcenter did all change in a weeks council cant do in 5month and they get paid Worst service in my entire life Big shame on all

  • Tanvir Hussain

The contacts service is a joke. They make a mistake on the council tax bills. I call them they keep transferring me from one department to another for 3 weeks and issue goes unresolved. JOKE! Really unprofessional people working here who make mistakes and waste residents time. The frustrations of even speaking to someone who knows what they are doing are too much. They need to hire people who know what they are doing because its ridiculous.

  • abdus basir

They don't have a payment processor! the counter told me to go a post office with a rent card provided by them and pay the fee,and then to take the receipt which will be provided by the post office to the town hall again,so they can see a prove that I paid,and will them process my application. Was behind 25 people at the post office,I guess they are all doing the same thing. Welcome to the new townhall brothers. Absolutely disgusting

  • Shagor miah

Extremely sadly I’m a young adult i became homeless it’s been 2 months I’ve been to mulberry place they was being extremely rude to me no help not a good service they treated me like a dog If there is no help for the young generation then the community will have more drug dealers more Knife crimes more bad things by young adults I’m only 21 I didn’t get no help from them at all! The 2 person saw me was Jenifr Housing Officer and

  • Jack Mayor

You're letting residents down! Worst council I've ever had the displeasure of experiencing. Only able to collect recycle bags from designated centres at defined times (twice a week). Owed council tax refund for a fortnight. All call centres don't pick up the phone during office hours, after 1 minute of trying to connect to adviser the phone call drops.

  • Katarína Otčenášová

They keep charging me for council tax arrears even though I provided receipts of payment. They replied on my emails after three months (as there is automated line and It’s impossible to talk to someone in real time) saying they resolved my issue and they just added arrears on the top of a new bill. So incompetent employees. The worst client service.

  • Farzana Begum

Wouldn't even give them 1 star rating!!!! You can never get hold if anyone regardless of what department you're after!!! Lived there most of my life and dare I say ill ever go back to reside in TH!! People work from home nowadays don't work at all and still getting paid. Why have phone lines when you're not gna answer!!!! Never ever!! Ridiculous

  • pauline

The council is really bad the streets are absolutely dirty and despite reporting andvrequesting street cleaning no action is taken for weeks. And that’s not even the worst reported anti social behaviour 3times and NO REPLY. They basically don’t car about people doing drive in the street not they want to take action to solve the problem

  • Joynal Siddique

I live in Roman Road market there is less electric charging point. Main problem is that in Tower Hamlets they didn't put any restrictions for the electric vehicle parking where is electric vehicle charging point in the lamppost. It's always full of non electric vehicles so it's too difficult to put charge electric vehicle,

  • Toni A

I called regarding a Council Tax query aware that at 16:55, it would most likely be too late to speak to anybody. The woman I spoke to was very warm, friendly and extremely helpful, especially considering the time and my query, and I wish I had made a note of her name. The date of the call was the 16/12/2020.

  • suzanne f

They are a joke, I have been waiting for help with the school uniform since august I have sent so many copies of my bank statement just to be told so many people have applied just to wait and it’s still not processed in this financial climate people cannot wait indefinitely for this, they don’t give a toss

  • Port 1

No one bothers to listen here despite sending numerous emails and phone calls, no one is willing to assist and help residents in this borough of Tower Hamlets, and everyone at this town hall seems to be working from home, Tower Hamlets Town Hall doesn’t seem to be functioning very well at all, appalling !

  • Arabella Jones

Noise pollution / Environmental protection team at Tower Hamlets are the most lazy and unhelpful people I have ever dealt with. They should get rid off that people, they barely pick up the phone, they do nothing about the complaints. Please donate this money to the charity instead of hiring dead wood

  • royston maldoom

I have tried to pay my council tax online and by phone. No chance. Either way, after telling me my reference no is invalidI, I always end up being put through to the parking fine department. Wits end!!!! No way to get to a real human being. Does anyone know how? ..please share with me.

  • HJ. G.

Don’t respond email on time and there has no other contact ways. they don’t leave phone line on the website the only way is email. However they rarely reply it. I have to emailed again and still waiting. The council tax is dramatically high but what are we paying for? Rubbish service

  • Julie Rawlings

If I could give minus zero I would. The refuse collection is non existent and no matter how many times you phone up to complain no one answers the phone. The rubbish is piling up and has been like this for about 2 months now and it stinks,

  • Sunu Miah

For the past 6 months, tower hamlets council have ignored the repeat non collection of recycling waste. they seem not bothred to respond to its residents on the matter. all this automated cyber space and nothing gets done, what a waste of

  • S4L555

Unfortunately i have lived in TH my whole life and the council is very bad at customer service. You can never get through to anyone in parking theres no option for you to press to talk to someone about permits! The new online system is a

  • sienna

If zero stars was an option they would simply get that review however unfortunately that’s not an option! The support is absolutely disgusting as they dismiss many cases that should be taken into priority, negotiating with staff is

  • Joynal Uddin

A place full of unfaithful dishonest advisors. Call them to get hung up on after you get close to the end of the queue. You’ll probably only get a hold of them if they want some money from you. Thieves the lot of them.

  • Luisa Maria Ferreira

1 hour waiting on the phone ( which I don't mind) the person picks up and treats me like I'm slow because she wouldn't hear my sentences all the way to the end just assumed probably I was going to be rude like her.

  • R S S

London Borough of Tower Hamlets new town hall is a state of the art building. Easily the best town hall in the country. Resident hub has detail facilities i,e cafeteria, baby feeding room, private interview booth.

  • John Koker

Proud of you Mr mayor your good works will never go in vain may Allah swt make u live longer and longer to see the good works u have done in this Borough of Tower Hamlets may god bless u sir. …

  • Md Enamul Hasan

I'm very happy to be resident of tower hamlets and what you guys doing a fantastic job to keep the Borough better place to live. Proud of you Luthfur Rahman and team Well done and keep up the good.

  • Chigozie KDY Amaechi

My experience was completely alright. I had a look around at what job experiences are available there to help me to get a job. For real, it was my first time visiting the Town Hall in Whitechapel.

  • Carmen Bonnici

Been trying all day ... 30th January 2023 To sort out My housing benefit as I'm now a pensioner .. its disgraceful you can't talk to anyone ... .. I'm not computer savvy not sure what to do …

  • Anton Ivanov

Wasn't able to reach them. The council adviser takes and immediately drops a call so it's impossible to reach them. Quality of service is similar to Russia in 90s only price is orders higher.

  • Flamboyant baby

never done anything what was required we all paying council taxes but the council can’t even deal with their overgrown plants which grow into people gardens and attract rodents !!

  • Muktar Hussain

I would of gave it 0 stars. Staff need training. They need to learn to have manners. So many things are wrong with this town hall. Specially the housing options team.

  • Ahammad Hussain

Huge, very neat, and clean building opposite of Whitechapel Station. They have various services for Tower Hamlets residents. Their services are excellent …

  • M Hassan

Poor service always excuse for change office and short of staffs good news is fantastic new office in a prime location and heart of east London .

  • Pierre Haniche

I wanted a letter of authority and i phone them.I came across a lady who was efficient and sorted my request within minutes.Thumb up.

  • rushna khanam

Really need to improve their services You can't ever get through to a human being it's voice activated nonsense.

  • Salina Akther

WORST EXPERIENCE EVER FROM TOWER HAMLETS COUNCIL/ AND TOWN HALL STAFF It is with a heavy heart I write this...

  • BawlzOfuzz

Very mediocre. I feel like the dining room staff let down the reception desk staff

  • Matt Smith

A very impressive town hall.

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