Elderly residents of the Abbs Cross Gardens estate in Hornchurch are being left humiliated by constant lift failures that have trapped them in their own homes. Retired fireman Brian Greenaway, 78, who lives on the 10th floor, fears leaving his flat because the lift could break at any moment. Residents are calling on housing association Hastoe to urgently fix issues caused by years of neglect.
Lift breakdowns leave elderly stranded
Rita Davies, 88, nearly passed out after being stuck in a lift at Victor Court for 20 minutes. The doors failed to open at the ground floor, and the lift suddenly ascended to the sixth floor before finally opening at the first floor. Davies needed help to descend the stairs due to exhaustion. Siobhan Thomas recalled another incident where an elderly lady was carried up five flights of stairs on a neighbour's back because the lift broke down. The woman now rarely leaves her home, unable to shop or collect medication.
Brian Greenaway described being trapped in his flat over the weekend. He suffers from chronic heart disease and cannot walk well. His wife warned him not to go down because he might not be able to return. Greenaway criticised Hastoe for "total incompetence," citing neglected grounds, litter, and parking issues.
Flooding from neglected drains
Bryan Archer, 55, has experienced two floods in his flat due to pigeon nests blocking roof drains. The worst incident in January forced him to stay in a hotel for two weeks and left him without heating for a month. His insurance claim left him £700 out of pocket. Archer fears leaving his flat when it rains, worried it will flood again.
John Rodgers, another resident, attributed some problems to younger residents who block lift doors, burning out the motor. He noted that lifts never broke for 15 years when only older people lived there. However, he acknowledged Hastoe is often quick to fix issues and pointed to ongoing maintenance work.
Hastoe responds
A Hastoe spokesperson said: "We are aware of issues with the two lifts at Victor Court, and we are sorry for the inconvenience and concern this has caused. We can confirm that one of the lifts is now working, with the other due for repair in the next fortnight. We are working closely with our contractors to ensure they source the parts so that both lifts are operational as soon as possible." To manage pigeon problems, Hastoe has cleared nests and introduced a falconer to discourage pigeons. They will hold a drop-in session for residents on 9 September and encourage reporting of concerns.
