Sheffield tower blocks lose heating and hot water

People living in three high-rise tower blocks in Sheffield have been struggling to keep warm after going without hot water and heating for nearly a week, residents have told the BBC.

According to people living in the 14-storey flats in Stannington, the problem was caused by a faulty boiler, which serves all three buildings.

Resident Jon King said he was doing “everything” to stay warm: “I’ve got a fleece, vest, two T-shirts, and a tracksuit top. I wear seven blankets on the bed!”

Sheffield Council, which manages the Woodlands, Parkside and Cliffe blocks, said it was “working hard” to fix the problem and was hopeful of installing the necessary part as soon as possible.

Mr King, 39, suffers from health problems including type 2 diabetes, and said the heating broke on Tuesday 16 December.

“I’ve been warming the flat by putting the tumble dryer on. It’s probably costing me a fortune,” he said.

Woodlands resident Wendy was diagnosed with bowel cancer five years ago and has undergone chemotherapy.

The 62-year-old said: “When it gets to about six o’clock, it is freezing in here. Then I get up in the morning and the windows are frosted up inside and out.”

Esmaeil Saghaile, originally from Iran, has lived in the flat with his wife and 18-month-old son for two years.

“I bought an electric heater which is now helping but we are so worried about looking after my kid,” he said.

John Dodson, 69, has lived on the ground floor of the tower block for more than 25 years. He said this was not the first time the boiler has broken.

“It’s every winter that something happens and we freeze. This is the longest it’s been off though.”

The pensioner admitted he had been living in his dressing gown for a week to keep warm.

Councillor Douglas Johnson, Chair of the Housing Policy Committee at Sheffield City Council, said the authority appreciated how “frustrating and upsetting” it could be to lose hot water and heating.

“Our officers work hard to maintain our infrastructure. As soon as we became aware of the fault they have been working to identify and rectify the fault.

“Hopefully the installation of the new part can be completed as soon as possible so people can get hot water and heating back into their homes as quickly as possible.”