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'Long fight for fresh air'
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| Clear the air: Steve Gilbert has been waiting months for William Sutton Homes to provide a fan to relieve his breathing problems |
A Parkinson's disease sufferer from Radlett has been waiting more than four months for a housing association to provide an electric fan to relieve his respiratory problems.
Steve Gilbert, 55, from Phillimore Place, contacted William Sutton Homes in November to ask for equipment to ventilate his living room.
He already uses a dehumidifier to make sure the air is clean to help his breathing problems.
Mr Gilbert said: "The living room has terrible ventilation and I have very bad respiratory problems, which means I cough quite a lot."
When Mr Gilbert initially got in contact with William Sutton they sent a representative to his flat to discuss options including installing an air brick in the wall, but it was agreed a fan should be installed.
He was later contacted in January by a company which said it needed to come to the property to do a damp survey.
Mr Gilbert added: "The company that called didn't say they were linked to William Sutton and therefore I told them that I didn't need a damp survey.
"My problem isn't to do with damp in the flat but my need to ease my breathing problems.
"It wasn't made clear by William Sutton as to who this company was and why they were coming to do the survey.
"This has taken so long and William Sutton have confused the situation with this outside company.
"I've had Parkinson's disease for three years now and had to give up running my own travel business. This hasn't helped matters with my condition."
Jeremy Kape, the housing association's director of property services, said: "We passed the request on to our specialist contractors Dampcure Woodcure to carry out a survey of the property.
"Whenever a fan is required we always have to carry out a specialist survey to ascertain we have fitted the right sort of fan which will not cause further problems.
"However Mr Gilbert has refused the Dampcure Woodcure contractors entry to his property twice.
"We will be contacting him to explain the situation again and would be more than happy to set up another visit with ourselves and Dampcure Woodcure."
9:06am Friday 21st March 2008
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CommentPosted by: Neil Garrity, Platt Hill Residents' Group, Bolton on 3:56pm Sat 22 Mar 08
This is a fine example of how little William Sutton cares about its most vulnerable tenants...
I’d recommend taking this matter further. Their Repairs policy says: [italic]Routine or general maintenance will be undertaken within [bold]1 month[/bold] , this includes internal fittings.[/italic] It goes on to say: [italic]We will check access arrangements with you and arrange a convenient time.[/italic]
The Association failed to keep this chap informed and so he rightly turned away an unexpected visitor to his home.
They really need to get their act together!
This is a fine example of how little William Sutton cares about its most vulnerable tenants...
I’d recommend taking this matter further. Their Repairs policy says:
Routine or general maintenance will be undertaken within 1 month , this includes internal fittings. It goes on to say:
We will check access arrangements with you and arrange a convenient time.
The Association failed to keep this chap informed and so he rightly turned away an unexpected visitor to his home.
They really need to get their act together!
Posted by: Anon, Hertfordshire on 10:14pm Sun 23 Mar 08
Feel sorry for this poor chap but am not surprised.
A friend of mine moved into one of their properties and there were/are overgrown conifer trees nearly as tall as a house. The then Ridgehill were going to reduce the height to 10ft but reneged on that and William Sutton have been no better. they just say that the tenant is responsible, how many tenants are able to reduce trees of that height or willing to pay iro £1,000 because of a problem caused by a previous tenant?This may not be as serious as this poor chap and his medical condition but it makes you wonder whether these housing associations really care about the tenants.
Feel sorry for this poor chap but am not surprised.
A friend of mine moved into one of their properties and there were/are overgrown conifer trees nearly as tall as a house. The then Ridgehill were going to reduce the height to 10ft but reneged on that and William Sutton have been no better. they just say that the tenant is responsible, how many tenants are able to reduce trees of that height or willing to pay iro £1,000 because of a problem caused by a previous tenant?This may not be as serious as this poor chap and his medical condition but it makes you wonder whether these housing associations really care about the tenants.
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