Champion Hill Residence was evacuated in January 2020 after fire safety defects were identified [1][2]. The residence has remained closed and unavailable for student intake since that date. King's College London is now undertaking major refurbishment and remedial works to address these safety issues and modernize the estate [1].

The university has set a phased reopening target, with the first set of rooms expected to become available for the September 2026 intake, with remaining blocks following in subsequent phases [1]. Construction and remediation works are scheduled to be managed by appointed consultants and contractors [1][3]. The residence will definitely not be available for the 2025/26 academic year, so students based at Denmark Hill Campus should seek alternative accommodation immediately.

For Denmark Hill-based students, Julian Markham House in Elephant and Castle remains a strong alternative, offering good transport links to Denmark Hill via bus and rail. Other KCL-managed residences and private providers in Camberwell are also worth exploring. The specific details of the refurbishment project—including exact construction timelines, the full financial scale, and detailed technical causes of the fire safety failures—have not been fully published in official university statements, so you should monitor the official KCL Accommodation website and contact the residences team directly for the most current information and any updates to the reopening schedule.