Elderly residents at a sheltered living accommodation have been without heating for the last 11 days amid the coldest temperatures seen this winter.
More than 20 people living in the block of flats at Sperrin Court in Cookstown were notified their heating would be off for ‘a few hours’ on Friday 3 March for boiler maintenance.
However, 11 days after the tenants in Co Tyrone were given a written notice of this, many of them have not had any heat or hot water in their flats, including over some of the coldest nights of the year where temperatures dropped well below zero.
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Some of the residents are aged in their 90s, while many are also struggling with health conditions which they say are being impacted further by the lack of heating in their accommodation.
Residents of Sperrin Court, which is managed by Choice Housing, have also been subject to four price hikes in their monthly heating charges in the accommodation in the last year.
The housing association has apologised for the delay in fixing the heating at the accommodation, and was working to fix the problem.
Those living in the flats had been provided with one small blow heater each in order to heat their homes which they say are inadequate, with temperatures dropping to -6C on Tuesday night.
Linda McCullough, one of the residents at the sheltered housing block aged in her 60s, says she has been forced to wear a big coat and a scarf from morning until night due to the temperature in her flat.
“We were told initially it would be off for a few hours but here we are 11 days later,” Linda told Belfast Live.
“There are 22 of us here downstairs who don’t have hot water or heat in our flats.
“We’ve tried ringing Choice and we can’t get through and still haven’t got a response from them.
“The only contact we have had was someone dropping off a box of heaters, which don’t give off enough heat at all.
“It’s been absolutely freezing, I go to bed with my dressing gown on and get up in the morning and put a coat on straight away.
“If we even have someone come out to talk to us to tell us what’s going on at least that would be something.
“There are a lot of people in here who don’t have family and are in ill health. There is a gentleman who has just got out of hospital to come back to a freezing cold flat.
“I’m in ill health myself and a lot of people in here aren’t in good health and we don’t think it’s right that we have to sit here in the cold.”
A statement from Choice Housing said the safety and wellbeing of its tenants was its "top priority".
“The safety and wellbeing of our tenants is our top priority and we apologise to tenants at Sperrin Court for any inconvenience caused whilst we work to repair issues with their heating system," a spokesperson said.
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“Unfortunately, there have been a number of technical issues with the boilers and heating system at Sperrin Court. We are working with our contractor on site to resolve these issues as soon as possible.
"Today, heat from replacement boilers was distributed throughout much of the building however weare still dealing with issues in some of the flats.
“We have been engaging with tenants and they have been offered temporary oil or electric heaters. If any tenants still require additional heaters, they can contact our Service Centre on 0300 111 2211 and we will arrange for them to be provided”.
SDLP councillor for the Cookstown area, Kerri Martin, said the treatment of those living in the flats was 'abhorrent'.
"Those living within Sperrin Court are some of the most vulnerable in our society and deserve to live in accommodation which is safe and warm," Cllr Martin said.
"With recent cold spells and one further on the way, it is abhorrent that residents are expected to live in these conditions.
"I will continue to put pressure on Choice Housing to do the right thing and ensure these works are carried out as quickly as possible for the safety and comfort of residents.”
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