Pensioner and disabled son left without heat or hot water for over week

A Derry pensioner (86) with emphysema and his severely disabled son (61) were left without heat or hot water for eight days when the boiler in their Woven Housing Association (formerly Habinteg) broke down.

Speaking to The Derry News, the man’s daughter said her father realised his heating was not working when he got up at 8 o’clock on Sunday, January 18.

“We are angry that the housing association left my father and brother without heat or hot water for eight days, especially because my brother has severe learning disabilities and is in a wheelchair,” she added.

“I contacted local councillors and MLAs to no avail and it wasn’t till late on Wednesday (January 21), Woven finally sent out electric heaters, which hardly heated Daddy’s house at all and on top of that they had no hot water to wash.

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“On Thursday (January 22) they told us there was a leak in the system and Daddy would need a new boiler. They then told us that for a priority installation, they needed a cancellation somewhere else. We missed a cancellation because my sister didn’t receive Woven’s call.

“I don’t know what’s wrong with Woven. I think it is a disgrace. I can’t get over the way my father and brother were left. In this day and age, two of the most vulnerable people were left with no heat and not a drop of hot water for eight days. There was nothing we could do. We tried everything.

“It has been a nightmare for them. I know daddy will probably get sick now. He has emphysema as well, which didn’t seem to flag anything at Woven’s end in terms of urgency, given he lives in a wee special development for people with disabilities. Daddy is in there 35 or 40 years,” said the pensioner’s daughter.

A spokesperson for Woven told The Derry News: “We are aware of the issue at one of our properties at Farland Way and we apologise to the tenants for the inconvenience caused.

“An out-of-hours call was received from the property on the evening of Tuesday, January 20. Our heating contractor visited the property that evening and assessed the situation and recommended the installation of a new boiler.

“Woven HA attempted to install a new boiler on Wednesday, January 21 but could not gain access to the property at short notice. Temporary heaters were provided the next day, Thursday, January 22.

“Arrangements were made to install the new boiler on Monday, January 26, which was successfully carried out.

“We understand how disruptive the loss of heating can be and took all practicable steps to assess the situation, instruct the repair, and provide temporary heating for the tenant and their family.

“Woven HA have at all times ensured we have worked with the tenant to deliver a new boiler within three working days.”