No hot water or heating for five weeks (From Redditch Advertiser)

No hot water or heating for five weeks

10:46am Tuesday 7th July 2009

• Print
• Email
• Share
• Comments(0)

A SEVERELY disabled woman from Redditch has had to endure five weeks with no hot water.

Ursula James, who is mentally disabled and lives alone in Batchley, has had no hot water or heating due to the boiler in her home being condemned.

Ursula, who lives in a private flat which was arranged by Redditch Council, says her pleas for help are being ignored by both the council and her landlord.

“I’ve been on to both the council and my landlord for weeks now to either fix the problem or find me a new home but nothing is happening,” she said.

“I’ve been left without hot water for five weeks, how I’ve managed to last this long is beyond me. I’ve had to go to a friend’s house and that is incredibly hard for me because I’m a very private person.

“I was given this property by the council which didn’t do its job and check it correctly and because of that I am now suffering.”

Ms James, who suffers from clinical depression and acute anixiety, added: “I just can’t go on like this, it’s causing me such stress that my hair is starting to fall out.”

A council spokesman said that it has assisted Ms James despite no duty being owed under homelessness legislation.

“We will continue to offer advice and support while trying to resolve her housing problems.

“We are aware Ms James has encountered recent problems in respect of her private rented property and both our Housing Options and Environmental Health teams have responded to these.”

Garry Atkinson, Ursula’s landlord, said: “I can understand Ursula’s frustration and I feel for her but I am doing everything I can, and have been doing everything I can to help, since the problem began.

“I have bought a new boiler and am waiting to get it fitted but the problem is finding someone who is CORGI registered to do it.

“I have done my best to reassure her and keep her informed but it’s been very hard. My main aim is to now get the boiler fixed.”

• Print
• Email
• Share
• Comments(0)