A MAN hasn’t been able to shower at his house for SIX WEEKS after his boiler broke as he claims his housing association “couldn’t care less.”
Karl Stake, 56, was left without hot water or heating at his home in Westhoughton, Manchester, after appointments to fix his boiler were cancelled.
3
The 56-year-old has been forced to travel to friends’ homes to wash after the housing bosses failed to fix the issues.
Engineers came to his house, managed by Onward Homes, for an annual check in March – and a problem was found with the boiler piping.
As a result, it was broken off during the check-up, but they then never came back to fix the issue.
Karl was then left without hot water or heating for six weeks – as the housing association allegedly told him to wash in the swimming baths.
The 56-year-old, who has mobility issues and arthritis, said it’s like “they don’t give a damn.”
He told Manchester Evening News: “A guy came and said one of the gas valves was faulty so he disconnected it.
“Another engineer came saying he would replace the valve but he seemed to take it to pieces after yanking at it.
“They said it needed new parts and someone would come and fix it soon but it’s been six weeks now.
Most read in The Sun
“I can’t walk well at all due to my arthritis but I’ve had to get over to my sister’s to wash.
“They (Onward) said I could go to the swimming baths if I needed to wash, it’s like they don’t give a damn.
“It’s been really distressing for me. I don’t know why they can’t have put this down as an emergency and fixed it straight away. I don’t understand why it was just brushed under the carpet.”
Karl said that the freezing temperatures in the mornings have been “very painful” and that Onward have just given him a tiny air heater to warm his home.
He added that the homes are “not fit for purpose” and the association are just “taking the mickey” after leaving him unable to shower.
The 56-year-old added: “I was given a tiny air fan heater but that doesn’t make the house anywhere near warm enough.
“It’s been absolutely freezing for me on some mornings which is very painful for me.
THAT WON’T WASH
“I honestly think they’re taking the mickey. I just really want to get out of this house now, fixing a boiler is surely basic stuff.
“These houses are not fit for purpose, no work has been done on them since 1974, they’re falling apart. I haven’t got a good word for this housing association.”
Since first complaining to the local paper, an engineer has come to fix the boiler – which Karl said “only took minutes to do.”
He added: “It didn’t seem like there was anything wrong with it, all they seemed to do was spray it a bit and it was all fixed.
“I had to go over six weeks with nothing being done to it and after all that time it only took minutes to fix. I could have done that myself.
“I was told it needed parts delivering which is why it took so long but there was nothing at all. I can’t believe it.”
A spokesperson for Onward said: “We are aware of an issue with a broken boiler and we are working with our contractors to resolve this as a priority.
“We appreciate that this has been distressing for the tenant and understand his frustration about the delay he has experienced.
“Temporary heating was provided to the tenant and other heating options have been offered while the boiler repair is being carried out.
“We are sorry that it has taken longer than expected to complete the boiler repair due to further issues being identified by our contractors upon installing new parts at each visit.
“We would like to reassure the tenant that we are working with our contractors to complete the repair as quickly as possible and we will continue to support him as we resolve this matter.”
3
3
