A MOTHER has spoken out after going without heating at her council home for almost a week – and she won’t have it until Monday.
During a routine check a contractor for Dacorum Borough Council decided to condemn the boiler at Kay Davis’ council home in Typleden Close, Hemel Hempstead.
Temperatures have regularly been below freezing over the past week and the Met Office has forecast temperatures for the town of -7oC tomorrow night and -6oC on Saturday night.
Kay, 42, said this week: “They said they’d come back the next day but no-one ever turned up and I was left without hot water or heating.
“I tried speaking to the council over the weekend, and spent a lot of time going backwards and forwards, calling so many people, but they said it wasn’t an emergency.
“I’ve had to send my youngest daughter Becky, who is 14, to her dad’s and I’m also worried about my pet cat.
“They’ve given me two very small fan heaters but it’s still cold here and they’re costing me a lot in electricity. “As far as I’m aware you’re only meant to go 24 hours without any heating or how water.”
An immersion heater was fitted on Monday to give the property hot water but Kay has been told a boiler won’t be fitted at her home until Monday.
Manager at the council’s property and place department Fiona Williamson said: “In the majority of cases, Dacorum Borough Council make necessary repairs within 24 hours.
“When a new boiler or parts are required, it may take longer than 24 hours.
“In these situations, fan heaters will be left at the property so there is a temporary form of heating, but it is not always possible to provide hot water.”