A Gateshead pensioner says he has been left freezing and "in shock" at council efforts to repair his home of 66 years.
Ken May vacated his Wardley house in September after agreeing to allow the local authority to rewire it and fix it up.
The 68-year-old had been facing eviction in a long-running dispute with the local authority and has been supported by a community campaign to keep him in the property, where he has lived since he was a baby.
Read More: District judge suspends eviction of Gateshead pensioner who has lived in his home for 66 years
A court order issued in August asked Ken to vacate the Stanfield Gardens premises for eight weeks, during which time he was moved into temporary accommodation, in order for mains gas and electricity to be reconnected and to allow the council to rewire and repair his home. The works were scheduled between September 5 and October 28.
However, the retired merchant seaman claims the rewiring was not even attempted until his move-back date of October 28. The council had been given a two-week extension for the work.
When Ken finally returned he says he was left with a brand new, but capped, boiler – leaving him without hot water or central heating. In the current icy weather, the temperature in the home can barely reach three degrees, he added.
The council's contractors removed floor tiles and roof insulation containing asbestos without replacing either, he also claims. Ken also said walls throughout the house were left unplastered after the rewiring works were completed.
Several door handles from rooms upstairs had been removed and not replaced and he also claims council workers ruined previous repair and paint jobs done by volunteers.
Ken's belongings were put into council storage and he says when returned were bunched together in one room. He stated this has made finding even cutlery and plates extremely difficult.
"When I came back I was in shock", said Ken, "I am trying to sort my life out and they have done bugger all. They have put my health and safety at risk and I want to hold them to account.
"The whole purpose of this was to rewire the house but Gateshead Council didn't even start the wiring until the morning of October 28, by which time they had got a two-week extension.
"I know Rome wasn't built in a day but they had complete control of this property for 10 weeks.
"I have done everything they asked. I have got gas that I am paying for but I cannot use, I had electricity put back on and now I am supposed to spend Christmas like this?
"I complied 100% with all the terms in the court order and Gateshead Council hasn't done a thing. They have totally reneged on everything they said to the court."
The council insisted that it was carrying out the repairs "according to plan".
A spokesperson said: "We were recently advised both electricity and gas services had been reconnected to the property, and on Monday, December 19, our teams are scheduled to attend to carry out necessary safety checks before restoring power and gas supplies.
“The health and wellbeing of our tenants is paramount, and we continue to work closely with Mr May to ensure his needs are met as quickly and efficiently as possible.”
He had previously faced another eviction notice in September 2021, when a district judge told him powering his house with generators and car batteries was dangerous and he had damaged the property.
Between 20 and 30 volunteers came to the pensioner's aide by repainting the property, tidying the garden, and even buying him a new bed.
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