Disabled man housebound after lift breakdown

Trevor Bradbrook, a wheelchair user whose left side was paralysed after a brain haemorrhage, only made an important oncology appointment during this time after his wife Joy enlisted the help of neighbour Julian Moran and a workman to carry him down the six flights of stairs from his second-floor flat in St James House, by Chapel Walk off Wrestwood Road, to the ground.

Trevor said: "I'm dependent on my wheelchair. I've been here ten days now. I feel badly let down. I feel I was told that the lift had been refurbished and guaranteed. You need peace of mind, that the lift is going to be done and finished with."

Trevor bought his flat from owners Economic Lifestyle in June 2007, after the building was converted from an Abbey to luxury apartments for the elderly.

His disability was a major factor in their purchase. The apartment itself is wheelchair friendly, and at first the lift gave easy access to ground level.

A few minor problems in 2007 resulted in the Bradbrooks nearly missing a flight after the lift door locked open and the situation worsened. The couple's diary shows 13 call outs between July 3 and August 9 this year.

Letters sent from Leasehold Management, the company hired to manage the building, say residents may have to supplement their annual service and maintenance charges with the 680 call out charge if engineers are required in future.

Joy Bradbrook said: "My husband is disabled. If one of us fell when we carried him down the stairs, that's not good for him.

"We have been told we might have to pay for all the call out charges, which is 680. The lift is part of the building and that's how I get to my flat, which is my part of the building."

Other residents have similar complaints. Some say the cleaner cannot move her materials above the ground floor without a working lift.

Pat Harman, who also lives on the second floor, said: "I had an elderly resident come to visit. She was with me for three hours and in that time the lift broke down.

"First of all it judders, then it stopped and then it dropped. It halted, stopped and went down.

"It's terrifying really, when you are stuck and can't get out."

Rob Cruttenden, who lives on the third floor, said: "We were told when we bought the flat that the lift had been completely refurbished but apparently that was never done.

"We certainly wouldn't have bought it if I'd known there would not have been a lift. There's 81 steps to my apartment."

Residents are unclear about who is responsible for maintenance work on the lift. They expect Economic Lifestyle to pay for the work, and say they bought the property assuming the lift was under guarantee.

Economic Lifestyle say repairs and maintenance above the annual service charge should be met by the apartment owners.

A spokesperson from Economic Lifestyle said: "We're working hard to resolve the situation because it's obviously unacceptable. This exceptional issue has come up where engineers are constantly put out there to get the lift fixed despite the best endeavours of the management company.

"A more permanent solution is being tabled. Investigations are taking place, and let's say we got to the point of saying there's a new lift required, well, then there are cost implications.

"There may be a contingency within the managment budget to allow for that, but if there were insufficient funds then everyone takes the necessary advice. We as the freeholder take it seriously and are waiting for repair costs to be submitted. The last thing we want is the residents not being able to use the lift."

Major parts for the lift have been ordered and are expected around the time of publication. These costs have been met by Economic Lifestyle.

If further work is required, the spokesman said there was "a possiblity" residents would contribute to these costs.