Water cut off at 95 flats after leak poses fire risk
Residents of a block of flats in Maidstone were left without water for four days.
The supply to 95 apartments in Sandling Park was cut off on Friday, due to a leak which seeped into a communal cupboard and posed a potential fire risk.
Emily Powell, who lives in the flats, described it as “a desperate situation”.
She added: “People aren’t able to have a shower or use the toilet.
“Some residents had to move elsewhere until the issue was resolved, but others don’t have that option.”
Ralph Syme, a spokesman for management company Nationspaces Developments Ltd, based in Glasgow, said: “To prevent the risk of a fire, we isolated the power supply, but unfortunately that power supply controls the pump for the pressurised water system.
“We had contractors on site over the weekend and again on Monday to find the cause of the leak and to fix it, and the supply was put back on around 10am.
“We apologise again for the stress and inconvenience that the residents have suffered during this unfortunate water leak causing the electrics and pumps being shut down.”
The flats, in Sandling Lane, are on private property, so the water network is not maintained by South East Water.
However, the water company did provide bottled water to residents free of charge, but were not involved with fixing the problem.
Residents are also concerned they are going to have to pay for repairs, despite paying an annual service charge to maintain the building.
Another resident, Terry Cunningham, said: “We’re paying this service charge but we’re not getting anything from it when we need it. I don’t know why they couldn’t isolate the water to one block rather than all 95 flats being affected.”
Mr Syme responded, saying: “The service charge is an annual amount that covers all aspects of maintaining the three blocks.
“This includes cleaning communal areas, landscaping, and glass cleaning.
“On top of that there are lifts in each block, and electric gates that need maintaining.
“If we overspend on the budget, we do have to ask for more money, unfortunately.”