A MAN has been forced to shower in his garden using a bucket after his power was cut off due to £17,000 of unpaid energy bills.
The 36-year-old, known only as Nick, says that the bills were meant to be included in his rent and suspects that his letting agent has failed to pay them.
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Nick claims that he paid £500 per month in rent to agents Virtual Rooms, which was supposed to include bills, since he moved into the shared house in Edgbaston, Birmingham last Novemeber.
The power was cut off on 19 July, at which point he stopped paying after receiving a letter telling him he owed £17,000 in unpaid energy costs.
This left him unable to cook and made him rely on an extension lead from a neighbour’s home to keep his fridge and fish tank filter running.
It also meant he had to use a bucket to shower and wait for the water to be warmed by the sun before using it.
He added that his girlfriend had moved out because of the cut and he was left fearing the coming winter amid the cost of living crisis.
Nick said: “I have to use a bucket of water in the garden to shower. It gets some warmth in the sun by around 4pm or 5pm. It hasn’t been too bad in the summer but now it’s getting closer to winter, I don’t know what I’ll do. Otherwise I have to go to the gym or go to a friend’s house.
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“My skin is affected from not being able to shower every day and it’s costing me more money in food because I can’t cook.”
He claims that he tried to contact Virtual Rooms without success and that he sent them pictures of the unpaid bills to no response.
When The Sun called the number on their website the line was disconnected and Birmingham Live were unable to get in touch when they visited the company’s office.
North Edgbaston Councillor Marcus Bernasconi said: “This is the latest in a long line of examples of absentee landlords causing misery for private renters in north Edgbaston.
“How anyone can be expected to live in these conditions in modern Britain beggars belief – no electricity, no gas or decent running water.
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“My heart goes out to Nick and I’ve been doing all I can to assist him, but appeals have fallen on deaf ears. Virtual Rooms has questions to answer about how it has allowed this to happen.”
Virtual Rooms have been contacted for comment by email.
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