A single mum-of-two has told how she has to sleep on the floor in a cold flat without hot water. Rosemarie had to give up her bed to her sons after a massive leak left their room and beds unusable.
The woman told how she is struggling to cope with the “horrific” conditions in the social housing flat. The family moved into her current flat in the Muswell Hill area of London just over two years ago and she lives there with her two sons, aged 15 and seven.
But she said there have been issues over the state of the property, owned by Peabody Housing Association, since she took over the tenancy. “First, the bathroom radiator wasn’t working. They came and they tried to fix it, but it still just comes on now and again,” Rosemarie told MyLondon.
She added: “The radiator in the kids’ bedroom is constantly leaking as well. With the hot water, when you put your hand under it, it’s warm. But seconds later when you put it on your body, it’s cold.”
Rosemarie said the lack of hot water in the property has led to huge issues for the family, and her sons struggle to wash themselves properly before going to school. She also claimed the heating in the flat did not work properly.
Earlier this year her sons’ bedroom was hit by devastating flood damage, which ruined the children's’ beds, lights and their possessions. Now, she has been forced to sleep on the floor so the children can use her bed.
Vulnerable tenant Rosemarie, who suffers with several mental health conditions, said : “It’s long term, but since I moved to that property it’s been really bad."
Originally from Jamaica, Rosemarie has no family in the UK she can turn to for help. “I don’t want to move out, but with the conditions I have to move,” she said.
A spokesperson from Peabody housing association commented: "We are very sorry about the ongoing issues with her home and understand her concerns, which we’re trying to resolve. Our surveyor and repairs contractor visited the property again to carry out a full inspection and we will be starting a programme of work straight away to fix these issues.
"Our local team will also be contacting her to provide any extra support she needs. We are aware of the leak and hot water issues affecting the property and are working to get this resolved as quickly as possible. We’re committed to proactively tackling problems like this and investing in people’s homes for the long term."
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