1,076 resident parking permit refunds are still waiting after a council system fault. Monthly subscriptions stay paused; 3, 6 and 12 month permits can still be bought.

1,076 residents are still waiting for a parking permit refund after a fault in Kensington and Chelsea Council’s permit system. The council says refunds are now “the main outstanding issue”. (Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, 20 October 2026)

Monthly permit subscriptions remain closed to new sign-ups while the fault is fixed. You can still buy a permit for three, six or 12 months.

What went wrong

The council says its parking permit system and its payment system stopped matching up. Payment dates, permit end dates and transaction records did not line up correctly.

That affected:

  • some monthly subscription payments
  • automatic renewals
  • cancellations
  • refunds

The council is working with its payment provider to reconcile the records and is applying fixes to the permit system.

Where it has got to

The council’s update gives these figures:

  • more than 405 payment records have been corrected
  • fixes for “several system issues” have been tested successfully
  • 1,076 refund cases are still waiting to be resolved

It says it is checking each refund carefully so people get the right amount. It has not given a date for clearing the backlog.

Some residents also received several emails or letters about their permits that contradicted each other or were simply wrong. The council says that problem has now been fixed.

Cllr Josh Rendall, the lead member for transport, parks and clean streets, said: “We recognise the impact these issues have had on residents and apologise for any frustration caused. Restoring confidence in our parking services is a priority, and we are focused on resolving the remaining problems as soon as possible.”

What it means for you

  • You will not be ticketed because of the fault. The council says residents are protected from enforcement where their records may be incorrect.
  • If you were due to start a monthly subscription, that option is still paused. Buy a three, six or 12 month permit instead through the council’s resident permits page. The page notice was last updated on 16 October.
  • If you are owed a refund, it is in the queue. Keep your permit number and any letters or emails you received.
  • If a bill looks wrong, or you need help, call the council on 020 7361 4381 or email residentparking@rbkc.gov.uk.

Refunds normally carry a £13 administration charge, under the council’s 2026-27 permit fees and charges. The council has not said whether that charge applies to refunds caused by the system fault.

Permit prices by emissions band, and where else you can park, are in our guide to parking in Kensington.