A housing association moved swiftly to remedy faults after we contacted them about outstanding repairs to a couple’s home – and apologised for the delay.
Accent Housing pledged: “The safety and comfort of our residents is always our top priority, and we would like to apologise for the unacceptable situation the couple found themselves in and any distress and discomfort it has caused.”
The couple say they had been left with a “dangerous and disgusting” wet room for too long.
Jackie Bostik, 70, of White Lion Close looks after her husband John, 73, who has suffered organ failure, a number of strokes and is battling a kidney infection and gout.
The couple moved to the Fens from London five years ago and say there have been problems with the wet room ever since
Three months ago the association agreed the couple’s wet room needed an “upgrade” to cater for John’s needs.
She said: “They came in and ripped up the floor, they took out the old toilet. They came back and put boards down where the old floor was and have just left us.
“John has not been able to have a shower; I’ve not been able to shower. I have to sit him and bathe him. Where is the dignity in all this?”
Accent Housing contracted MD Group to complete works on the couple’s home. That included fitting a new toilet and sink to adapt to John’s needs and new flooring in the wet room.
MD Group completed assessments before taking up the floor last month and Mrs Bostik said that they arranged to come back on August 20 before re-arranging to mid-September.
A spokesman for Accent said: “The problems with their wet room were reported to us in May and the work was agreed and arranged. MD attended but we were not aware that there were any outstanding problems until this week.”
On Thursday the spokesman said: “MD is now at Mr and Mrs Bostik’s home and they have assured us that the work will be completed today.
“One of our senior managers will also visit Mr and Mrs Bostik today to inspect the work and to ensure that there are no other problems. Our contractors have informed us they will not leave the site until Mr and Mrs Bostik are happy.”
He added: “Once again, we would like to apologise to Mr and Mrs Bostik and ask them to let us know if they experience any further problems straight away so we can put them right quickly and without any further inconvenience.”
Mrs Bostik said: “The boss came yesterday and waited for them [MD Group] to finish of. I was going to paint the radiator myself, because I’m quite capable, but they’re going to do that as well. They’ve excelled themselves.
“I was quite excited when they came. I can’t thank the paper enough. I feel wonderful, they bent over backwards to help us. The man who did it [the works] was brilliant.
“I’m glad because if it was any longer for him [John] then I don’t think we could have coped with it. Enough was enough.
“It looks very posh in there and they’ve bought me a new shower curtain. We’ve been well spoilt. They’re going to re-do our carpets free of charge and we get to pick it.
“I look at it now and think wow, it’s done. Thank you.”
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