The latest issue of Inside Housing has an article on an issue pursued by campaign member Clare Joseph, Hackney councillor. It relates to the impact of a lift breakdown in a property with only a single lift. The tenant, Malcolm, a wheel chair user, estimates that over the last three years it has been out of use for 600 days and he has been trapped in his flat. Journalist Peter Apps records that 56% of social housing tenants have long-term illness or disability. Therefore this is a common problem.
Tenants who ask to move to get away from this problem face the fact that there is an acute shortage of social housing. Malcolm put in for a transfer three years ago. The lift is not his only problem. The design of the flat doesn’t allow his wheel chair to move easily around it. He has to climb out of it and leverage himself around the flat on sticks. He has suffered accidents as a result, including one where he smashed his head into the door frame and nearly died.
His landlord Sanctuary has told him he should move into old people’s accommodation, something he does not want to do. He wants to maintain his independence and live in a mixed community. He has been offered other flats with a single lift, and a property with steps leading up to it, which another wheelchair user was moving out of because it wasn’t accessible!
Clare Joseph, the Labour ward councillor who has assisted Malcolm says:
“As a councillor, I am well aware of the lack of social housing. Sadly, we have other disabled residents in similar situations. Clearly we need more social housing and adequate government funding, but we also need housing associations who benefit from charitable status to properly consider their residents needs. Being trapped inside for months has a huge impact on people’s mental and physical health. They deserve better.”
Malcolm’s problem may be resolved after the intervention of Clare and his MP, but you wonder how many more people are facing similar situations and haven’t been able to get help.
We would be interested to hear if you or people you know have similar experience. Landlords are often reluctant to spend money on lifts. Putting in a new one is expensive. But it’s their responsibility to enable disabled tenants access in and out of their buildings, or else the landlord is responsible for constant anxiety and their virtual imprisonment.
Labour Campaign for Council Housing 