Residents in Homefern House in Margate have been struggling to get in and out of their properties due to a lift being out of action for six weeks.
The 96 flat, warden assisted retirement property in Cobbs Place, run by Arrow Leasehold Management Ltd, is home to many people with impaired mobility.
Margate’s Modern Provider bakery owner Ben Wykes has been helping an elderly friend who he said has been virtually housebound.
Ben, 34, has been in contact with Arrow demanding to know when repairs will be made. He said at least 20 residents with mobility problems are suffering due to the delay in fixing the lift.
He said: “The lift has been out of order for about six weeks. Many residents are disabled or physically impaired and rely on the lift to get out of the building and see friends, do shopping etc.
“I have been helping an elderly friend with his shopping as he is completely house bound due to this.”
Arrow manages properties with leaseholders paying a management fee for services including day to day management of the block/estate and raising and managing routine reactive repairs.
In response to Mr Wykes complaints Arrows’ Head of Operations told him: “We completely understand residents’ frustration with the ongoing issues with the lift.
“Unfortunately, when the lift originally broke down and the engineers attended to repair, they encountered further issues which highlighted more serious issues and thus needed to order specific parts to repair.
“We are disappointed with the engineer, who is contracted to maintain the lifts, that this has taken so long, but we are actively pushing to resolve.
“This is not consistent with our management and we have contacted leaseholders to keep them informed and expressed our apologies, we have a good relationship with the residents of Homefern House and we are doing everything we can to get this resolved, as is the onsite manager.”
Mr Wykes has now been told the lift will be operational by close of play Monday.
Yep, welcome to Britain today. Our elderly neglected and treated like second class citizens. But don’t worry, Boris has far worse in store, how dare we treat these people this way. Vote Labour and get some justice for these folk.
Sadly, I am forced to agree. This looks like the future.
People are being asked to choose between properly funded provision for the elderly, and others, or Brexit. And too many will choose Brexit and to hell with the consequences.
Still, we will know who to blame and they will have no excuses.
It seems that telling the paper has worked here!! But will it be working by end of Monday? It is a sorry state of affairs when once again the elderly or/and the disabled people are put at risk or just let down by the people who are supposed to help them. Arrow leasehold management needs to get a new engineer to do the work if they can’t get it fixed in a reasonable time six weeks is not reasonable. When those of us who have less mobility then able body people need to be able to keep what they have left so they can be as independent as possible not cooped up because of bad maintenance as proper maintenance!! should have found out about other faults and fatigue in the parts of the lift which needed replacing as any engineer worth his salt would tell you. And as the residents pay for the service (not cheap I bet) it’s a disgraceful situation.
What would happen if there had been a medical emergency, would ambulance staff have had to carry a resident down four floors of steps?
Where were the health and safety elves or don’t management understand the have a personal liability for safety once they are aware of a problem?
It wouldn’t matter which political party was in power this is a commercial decision and the health and safety agencies should investigate.
Haygordon spot on well put.
Rubbish old fruit. Commercial decisions are made from making a profit. My point is if we had a fully funded social care service this would never happen. Only one party that will do this and it ain’t them tories.