Salcombe Lodge in Gospel Oak

OLDER people have faced a winter of freezing temperatures without hot water or heating because of bungled boiler work by their housing association.

The tenants of Salcombe Lodge, Gospel Oak, have suffered for years from frequent breakdowns and last autumn their landlord, One Housing, decided it was time to strip out the entire system and install a new communal boiler.

But as work was completed in November, problems started. Householders heard strange gurgling in pipes and knocking noises – and then no hot water and heating. Four months on, the problem has not been solved and many have had to reply on expensive electric heaters.

Tenants told the New Journal that not only was the new system not fit for purpose, but One Housing had been “almost impossible” to contact, had failed to adequately look after older people, and had made a series of empty promises to tenants about what the issue was and how it could be righted.

Tenant John O’Rourke said after years of issues, Salcombe Lodge residents had run out of patience. He said: “The system needed upgrading for years. They finally started work but the boiler and pipes they have chosen was riddled with problems. It has yet to work properly, four long months after builders left after they’ve spent who knows how much on it.

“We have had people in their 80s with no heating or hot water, and no apparent means to make sure the landlord knows this and is able to react.”

Mr O’Rourke said the lack of heating and hot water had been made worse by the association’s attempts to stonewall tenants who rang up to let them know of the issues.

He said: “Efforts to communicate through OHG’s contact centre have been stymied by an appalling service. Residents started reporting the failings in the heating last November and their attempts to investigate have been clownish.”

Tenants have kept a log of the issues they have faced since the heating system was replaced. The problems have been made worse, they say, by the landlord’s shocking lack of knowledge about their own property. This includes OHG sending emergency plumbers out in the early hours with instructions to fix non-existent boilers in flats.

A spokesperson for One Housing, said: “We installed a new communal plant in March 2022, in line with the manufacturer’s guidance, but unfortunately that did not fix the problem.

“Since December 2022, some issues began to arise as a result of air locks within the heating system and we have sought advice from expert consultants to fix the root problem.

“We have been keeping customers updated regularly with nine updates sent between December 15 and today. We have also provided temporary fan heaters and water urns while we undertake investigations.

“Customers have been informed that the consultant will complete their report this week.”