Food delivery riders from Deliveroo, Just Eat, and Uber Eats have been barred from entering a luxury apartment complex in east London after its management linked the decision to media claims about “undocumented” workers, The Guardian reported.

The move affects the Canary Riverside development near Canary Wharf, close to where protests have taken place outside the Britannia International hotel over the housing of asylum seekers.

In a security notice sent to residents, property management firm Parkgate Aspen said the ban followed concerns about “security arrangements” after the nearby hotel was “appropriated for migrant housing” and unrest followed.

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The notice cited press reports alleging that some food delivery couriers were undocumented and said such workers “cannot be allowed to roam” the estate. It warned that riders from the major delivery platforms would no longer be admitted, while supermarket deliveries from companies like Ocado or Tesco would still be allowed at residents’ discretion.

Parkgate Aspen told The Guardian that although the delivery restrictions had been under consideration for months, the Britannia hotel protests prompted residents to request “heightened security,” leading the company to fast-track the policy.

Delivery firms push back

All three delivery platforms rejected the undocumented worker claims.

  • Deliveroo said it had a “zero-tolerance approach to illegal working” and terminates contracts if breaches are found.
  • Just Eat stated that the vast majority of its couriers are registered independent workers with a legal right to work.
  • Uber Eats highlighted “state-of-the-art identity and video verification technology” to ensure compliance.

While Parkgate Aspen claimed resident feedback had been “overwhelmingly positive,” some residents criticised the policy as arbitrary, arguing it unfairly targeted food couriers but not other visitors.

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The company also cited previous complaints of bad behaviour, such as riders relieving themselves in stairwells and verbally abusing residents who refused to allow tailgating into buildings.

According to The Guardian, protests outside the Britannia hotel, where asylum seekers are believed to be housed, have drawn local residents but also far-right activists. Early demonstrations were peaceful, but recent disturbances led to arrests and police-issued return bans for alleged harassment.

Social media claims that asylum seekers staying at the hotel were working as delivery drivers were denied by police, who said the individuals filmed leaving on mopeds were hotel staff. In one instance, police said they escorted a delivery driver to the hotel address for safety reasons.

(With inputs from The Guardian)