Basildon retirement home ‘freezing’ with no central heating

Residents say they are stuck in a retirement home that has had no central heating for months.

Several occupants at Afflets Court in Basildon, Essex, told the BBC they had been wearing coats indoors and using “rubbish” personal heaters since July.

The sheltered housing complex is managed by Basildon Council, which is currently upgrading the boiler system and said it was “disappointed” to hear the concerns.

Resident Pat Taylor-Hockley, 80, said: “I’m absolutely freezing. I’ve been thinking of going to my daughter’s and staying there until it’s done.”

Ms Taylor-Hockley has lived at the complex for nine years and said she now carried handwarmers in her coat pocket.

“It feels like someone’s hammering on my knuckles. It feels like someone’s really bashed them,” she said.

“That’s arthritis. My blood circulation is not good. It’s sort of pins and needles.”

Pat Scott, 74, has been a resident for five years.

She said: “The heating here is terrible. We’re in our rooms, we’ve got to have two heaters on some days which costs an absolute fortune. If we’re downstairs we’ve got to wear coats or gloves.”

Another resident, Jan Ling, said they had been told to sit tight for another few weeks and that “a lot” of them had been getting a virus following the “really cold” temperatures.

Susan Padmore, 78, said they had been given personal heaters which they claimed were “rubbish”.

“As long as you shut all your doors, that particular room will be warm. If you have the doors open, forget it. It’s not going to happen, it’s just not going to be warm.”

Jennifer Gunn, 78, has been there for six years, but has concluded “I should never have come here”.

“In the evening it gets colder and your legs get cold because these radiators don’t warm the flats up,” she said.

A spokesperson at Basildon Council said: “Residents have been kept informed throughout the heating installation process.

“Oil-filled radiators have been provided as a temporary solution and they are aware they can request additional ones if required, and the heating element of rent has been suspended until the works are complete.”