A mother and her baby faced a year without heating or hot water, sparking outrage over poor housing conditions and lack of communication.
Stockport: A mum named Courtney and her one-year-old daughter, Esme, have been living without heating and hot water in their flat for over a year. They’ve faced a bunch of issues since moving into Brecon Towers, like dampness, mould, and leaks. Courtney says the housing association hasn’t communicated well about these problems.
She first reported the heating issue back in November 2023. Since then, the water has only been lukewarm. To bathe her daughter, she’s had to go to her parents’ place, and those electric heaters have jacked up her bills to over £1,000 a year.
Stockport Homes finally restored the heating and hot water on January 3, after they were first told about the problem last February. They provided Courtney with three electric heaters and promised to reimburse her for the extra costs.
However, the housing association claims they couldn’t fix the issue sooner because they couldn’t get access to the flat, despite trying to reach Courtney multiple times. Courtney disagrees, saying she often waited at home for them to show up, but no one came.
She expressed her frustration, saying, “Every time they’ve tried to come, they’ve never let me know. They’ve never emailed me about any repair whatsoever.” She reported a leak on Boxing Day, but again, she received no communication from them.
She added, “I wouldn’t miss an appointment about heating for god’s sake. I’ve waited in plenty of times, and they’ve not turned up. Who would lie?” Courtney is more concerned about her child’s health than money.
A spokesperson for Stockport Homes said they tried to contact her in various ways but didn’t get a response. They assured her they would arrange reimbursement for her extra expenses and acknowledged that the handling of repairs fell short of expectations.
They apologized for the distress caused and promised to resolve any remaining issues quickly, emphasizing their commitment to meeting the standards residents deserve.
