Disabled Tenant Paid for Cook as Southwark Delayed Kitchen Doorway Fix
A disabled woman faced nearly a year without kitchen access. She had to hire a cook due to council delays in widening her kitchen doorway.
Southwark, London, Disabled Tenant, Kitchen, Council Delays, Housing Ombudsman
For 11 months, she couldn’t use her kitchen. With a low income, she had to hire a cook to prepare her meals. It’s a frustrating situation, and it shouldn’t have happened.
The Housing Ombudsman recently highlighted her case. They pointed out how Southwark council failed to meet her needs. They didn’t communicate well, either, which made things worse.
The Ombudsman said the council didn’t respect her vulnerabilities. They missed the government’s deadline for making necessary adaptations. It’s just not right.
By the time the investigation wrapped up, she was still living there. But she decided to cancel the adaptations because she wanted to move instead.
Victor Chamberlain, from the Liberal Democrats, criticized the council. He said it shouldn’t take 11 months to widen a door. This is a clear failure in housing.
Other councils in London, like Lambeth and Kingston, also faced scrutiny. The Ombudsman noted that many systems are uncaring and ineffective.
Southwark council has been asked for a comment, but no word yet. It’s a tough situation for the tenant, and she deserves better.