Woman left in the cold after boiler condemned
DISABLED VETERAN’S DESPAIR AS SHE’S LEFT WITHOUT HEATING
A DISABLED Army veteran said she was left without heating in her rented home through the coldest week of the year after her boiler was deemed ‘dangerous.’
Former foster carer Wendy Mill said a workman told her the boiler was unusable and turned it off last Tuesday and she has not had heating or a hot shower since.
Ms Mill, who pays almost £400 a month to rent her Sandiacre property from EMH Homes, said she was in a state of “despair” at the situation and even tried heating her home by leaving the oven on.
The 63-year-old, who is disabled, said: “I was only just coping with mental problems through Covid and in this situation, I feel like I can’t fight my own corner.
“I have spent my youth fighting for everyone else. I am so low, I have not been out for a long time through the pandemic and I struggle with walking.
“It was -5C outside last week and I put my oven on to heat the kitchen but my son said it wasn’t a good idea. I heard it was the coldest day in the UK for 26 years.
“I managed to keep the lounge warm with the doors closed but when I go into another room it is absolutely perishing.”
Ms Mill, who used to be a driver in the army in Northern Ireland, has lived in the home since 2018.
Wendy, who looked after 28 children over five years as a foster carer, said: “Last Tuesday (February 9) my boiler was booked in for a service.
“The guy who came round said it was all rusted inside because of a leak. The remedy was a new boiler. He turned it off and left a sign on it which said ‘danger, do not use.’
“I emailed EMH to say I wanted a timeline as to when it was going to be sorted as this issue has been going on since I moved here.
“Eventually I got a call from a woman who said the boiler was not condemned and someone would come out on Friday. They didn’t turn up.”
Wendy said she told EMH that if nobody told her when the issue would be fixed by the end of the day, she would contact her MP.
She said she was told a sub-contractor would be in touch, but said she has not heard anything since then.
She added: “They left me with two fan heaters but I am on benefits and my bills will go up.
“I am disabled and I cannot carry them up the stairs either.
“All I am asking for is a timeline when I can get my heating back. You have to fight for everything and I’ve got no fight left. I just despair at what to do.”
Wendy’s son James Mill, an engineer, added: “I just find it ridiculous and I am thinking about how many other vulnerable old people this is happening to.
“It’s absolutely shocking. Luckily we have good friends and family who have donated heaters but it is sending her meter around like a cartwheel.
“The whole point of living in rented accommodation is you shouldn’t have to do these things.”
Christine Ashton, executive director of housing at EMH homes, said: “We are very concerned about the distress caused to Ms Mill as a result of the delay in getting the boiler fixed and would like to offer our sincere apologies.
“We realise how difficult it must have been for her, particularly given the recent cold weather. On February 9 the boiler failed the annual gas safety check. After getting permission from Ms Mill, the operative then disconnected it for safety reasons.
“Although not ideal, the property had some hot water via an electric shower, and Ms Mill was supplied with two temporary heaters.
“We are due to visit tomorrow to fully fix the boiler. We realise that the time it has taken to fix this is unacceptable, and we will be reviewing our arrangements to ensure that this does not happen in future.”