Oslo municipal housing laundry shut for asbestos removal

Since 7 June, the laundry facility in the Stovner centre municipal housing blocks in Oslo has been closed while asbestos is being removed. The residents – many elderly, ill and families – have been left without a place to wash clothes for months, with no clear date for reopening. The housing provider Boligbygg says the work is a priority but has not given a timeline, and advises tenants to use the limited machines in a neighbouring block. Residents complain of poor communication; 86‑year‑old Bjørg Borgerud said, “We are desperate. We cannot wash clothes.” The issue follows previous long‑standing maintenance problems, such as a stuck elevator two years ago, highlighting ongoing challenges in Oslo’s public housing.