To think that a lift shouldn't take almost 2 weeks to fix if wheelchair users are living on the first floor?

[zipzap]

Trying to think of ways to help a friend that's been stuck in her flat for the last two weeks because the lift has broken. And because she needs a wheelchair she can't just walk down the stairs like everyone else can, thanks to EDS (a genetic tissue disorder affecting her joints and internal organs).

A lift man's been to fix it but doesn't have the right software and doesn't seem to be making any attempt to get it. And whilst friends have stepped in to help get the dc (aged 7) to and from school and Tesco etc can deliver groceries, it's going to be a major problem if there's a fire.

To add insult to injury, she was told on friday afternoon that the lift was fixed but when one of her dc went to test it - it still wasn't working and when she rang the PM company to say that it hadn't been fixed, the office had switched on its answerphone and wasn't open again until this morning.

She's written a great press release to try to see if local press articles might raise some pressure to get it fixed soon, but I thought I'd see if anyone on MN had any other ideas that might be able to speed up the repairs!

We're based in Milton Keynes if that makes a difference.

(and sorry, I know technically this isn't so much of an AIBU more an 'Is the repair company and property management company BU?')

[controlpantsandgladrags]

Yes the property management company are absolutely BU. I would post in legal actually and see what advice you get. Completely unacceptable.

[cambridgeferret]

Contact Anglia News. They'd love a story like this.

[squeakytoy]

It is definately not unreasonable, but why on earth is a wheelchair user living in a first floor flat? What would happen in the event of a fire?

[madwomanintheattic]

god squeakytoy, my exact thoughts - how on earth did that happen?
has the block of flats got proper equipment installed on the stairwell to facilitate egress in a fire when the lifts won't be in use?

if this is local authority housing she needs to be discussing whether a more suitable option is available.

is he wc bound? there's a lot of difference in presentation/ ability with eds - is it not possible for her to walk the flight of stairs and have someone else bump the wc down? (i hate doing this with dd2's as they are not at all designed to be stair friendly, but it is possible in a 'popping out to the shops' manner - def not in an emergency evacuation manner though.

how would she get out now if there was a fire?

hope the lift is fixed soon though.

[zipzap]

Thanks everyone.

Cp, that's a good idea, I'll do it when I get back on my pc (on my phone at the moment)

Looks like the local newspaper is going to run the story this week which is a good start.

I know she's waiting for another house but hasn't been offered any yet. not sure how she ended up in the flat. And heaven forbid there should be a fire then they have to rely on the fire door holding out and the fire engine getting there very quickly - and the emergency services know to treat it as exceptionally high priority.

And doh. Just realised I didn't paste the link as I meant to (I even got as far as copying it) so will do that later too.

[Hulababy]

When I lived in a new apartment block our lift was out of order for almost 12 weeks. It was a nightmare but as I am able bodied it was manageable - horrible with a toddler and pushchair and living on the fifth floor.

However there was an elderly man who was unable to navigate the stairs himself.

In the end our concierge men used to come and help get him in and out of the apartment. Not very nice for the man concerned as seemed quite degrading in so many ways for him, but it did mean he was able to get out. They were on call all the time as otherwise a fire/health and safety issue. Really not ideal at all, and there were many many complaints about it taking so long.

[madwomanintheattic]

that's crazy. forget campaigning to get the lift fixed, get the local rag to campaign to get her moved to a more accessible house or ground floor flat.

[JLK2]

The lift wouldn't work if there was a fire, surely?

[Andrewofgg]

If this is privately owned and she bought it before she used the wheelchair it's her responsibility to organise a move.

[zipzap]

Thanks for all those. Now back on my pc so here's the link to the press release about this.

Not sure if she was wheelchair bound when she moved in but I'm pretty sure it's rented rather than owned. She is trying to get allocated to a wheelchair friendly property (ie bungalow or ground floor flat) but has been waiting for a long time. Hopefully one of the silver linings that comes from this is that she will get a property sooner.

Not possible to get somebody else to bump her wheelchair up or down the stairs or help her get up or down - there's no porter/concierge and her kids also have eds (albeit they are not yet in wheel chairs) so not able to help either.

madwoman I think she has eds quite badly now; she did try to go down the stairs but put her hip out and as she's just had an operation she really shouldn't be doing things like this at the moment while recuperating. whilst she can use crutches a bit to get around it's not ideal - and certainly not down stairs!

looks like the local radio news have been in today so that's a good move, the property management co director has also been in touch but just to confirm that things are no further on . Unfortunately friend has also heard a whisper that they may be struggling financially so that could be one explanation as to why it is all taking so long.

It's not just her that's facing difficulties - there's old people that struggle without the lift, mums with toddlers and pushchairs... If the right lift man had been and they knew they were waiting for a particular part that was on order it would be one thing but they haven't even got to that stage yet.

Thanks again for all the advice.