A pensioner has claimed he can't use his shower while his neighbours are using theirs. Calvin Philip, 82, from Withington, says it's due to an issue with the water pressure, and that the problem has been going on for months.
Instead, the pensioner says he has to use his shower at a time when his neighbours aren't using their water supply - or find other ways to wash himself.
Having been diagnosed with cancer four years ago, Calvin has a range of disabilities meaning he isn't able to use his bath. He says he's instead been forced to wash himself with a flannel.
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Speaking to the M.E.N, he said: "About 10 years ago my boiler stopped working properly. People came out to it and they didn't seem to know what they were doing and I kept on topping the water supply so it would work.
"Eventually I had to stop doing that because I'd been pretty ill and had cancer. Eventually they got it repaired. With the shower, I had an old one that worked fine but it wore out.
"They installed a Triton shower and from the very beginning it didn't work properly because of low water pressure. They eventually sent an engineer who checked everything out.
"They said I was going to have problems because the pressure is borderline and when other people in the area are using showers and water mine won't work."
Calvin said the issue has been going on for months, but claims when he contacts social landlords Southway Housing, his emails are repeatedly ignored. Approached by the Manchester Evening News, they detailed what they had done for the tenant and vowed to 'continue to support him'.
"Some days I can get a shower and some mornings I have to wash myself with a flannel," he said. "Last week it didn't work for three days running, because people are getting ready to go to work.
"They (Southway Housing) know all about this but they won't do anything. I have a partial disability and walk with a stick. I've had a hip replacement. I don't want to lie down in the bath because I won't be able to get up.
"I don't think it's too much to ask to be able to wash yourself. I like to be clean and can't wash myself properly with a flannel. I've been in and out of hospital for years now and I just want to come home to a working shower."
A spokesperson for Southway Housing Trust said: "We sympathise with Mr Philip and will continue to support him. We installed a new shower in May this year. We then responded to Mr Philip's concerns by replacing it with another shower in June. Both showers were verified as fully functioning by the manufacturer and a qualified Electrical Supervisor.
"We understand water pressure can be affected at periods of heavy usage. Showers that Southway install have an essential safety device that drops the temperature when water pressure drops, to avoid scalding users. We have carried out four checks at the property, and United Utilities has attended, and on each occasion the water pressure has been registered as normal, and the shower has run with an even temperature.
"We have also attended to give guidance on the best use of electrical showers; not changing the temperature during a shower or running water or other devices, and trying the shower again after a short break if it’s changing temperature at times of heavy usage, such as early in the morning.
"We are willing to speak to United Utilities on Mr Philip’s behalf about looking into the water pressure again. We are also in conversation with the manufacturer of the shower to explore another solution or model that will help Mr Philip."
A spokesperson for United Utilities said: "We visited the property in July following reports of low pressure. Our engineers found that the pressure and flow on our network to the boundary of the property were above our standards of service, so the problem being experienced internally is a private issue."
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