A Scottish council has apologised to a pensioner after he was forced to use a kettle to wash for over a month after being left with no hot water.
An issue with Alastair Masterton’s immersion heater meant he has been unable to shower or wash dishes at his home in West Pilton, Edinburgh.
The 74-year-old claims he reported the issues to Edinburgh Council on August 29, however the issue had still not been fixed.
The retired civil servant has lived in his flat for over 20 year. He alleges several contractors have been out to fix the issue, however said he was told part of his kitchen wall must be removed. Alastair, who lives alone, has had no choice but to boil the kettle to wash himself and his dishes – something he says as a pensioner, he can’t afford to do much longer, reports Edinburgh Live.
After the council gave Alastair another appointment for an inspector to visit at the end of October, the 74-year-old said he feared the issue will remain unresolved into Christmas.
However, after Edinburgh Council were contacted, officers have been in touch and arranged to carry out the repair on Friday morning, October 4.
“When they gave me the original appointment on October 24 I rang them back and said surely this has to be an error and they said ‘no we’re short of inspectors’.
“Who is worse off than I am? I’m 74-year-old and got no hot water. I had the dentist yesterday and I’ve got the doctors tomorrow and going out smelling like a dirty old cow. It’s not good enough.”
Alastair said he regularly has to fill the sink with water from the kettle to wash his hair and rinse it off with cold water from the shower before washing himself with a flannel.
Having lived in the block at Northview Court for 22 years, Alastair questioned why his issue wasn’t made a priority.
He added: “If the worst came to the worst I have a neighbour I’m sure would let me use his shower but why should I have to do that? I’m having to make a cup of tea and think ‘do I need the hot water for something else’ before letting it go cold.
“Thankfully I can keep warm as I have a heater in each bedroom and a decent fire so that’s not a problem but they’re expensive to run and my bills will already by sky-high.”
Housing, Homelessness and Fair Work Convener Jane Meagher said: “I’m so sorry to hear about the issues Mr Masterton has been experiencing and I appreciate how difficult this must be. Officers have been in touch and have arranged to carry out the repair on Friday morning.”
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