A 56-year-old man with arthritis and depression has slammed his housing association after he was left without hot water or heating for six weeks following an annual check on his boiler. Karl Stake, who lives in Westhoughton, had to travel to family and friends to wash as appointments to fix the boiler were cancelled.
Karl told the Manchester Evening News that engineers came to his Onward Homes managed property in The Pewfist, Westhoughton, at the end of March to carry out an annual check. However, he says a problem was found with the boiler piping, which was broken off during the check-up.
This left the boiler broken, meaning Karl, who has mobility issues due to his arthritis, was unable to heat his home or get any hot water. A few appointments were made to fix the boiler, but he says these were initially cancelled at short notice.
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The next appointment he was given was six weeks after the initial check-up which left the boiler broken, leaving him stranded with no proper way to heat his home. "A guy came and said one of the gas valves was faulty so he disconnected it," Karl told the MEN.
"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.
"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.
"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.
"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 speaking to us last week an engineer has come to fix Karl's boiler, but this has not calmed his frustrations. "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.”
