‘The house is freezing, we are all miserable and cold’

A MOTHER-of-three, who is expecting a new baby in two weeks time is frantic with worry as her council house in Navan, has been without heat for the past six weeks.

"The house is always freezing, we are all miserable and cold and I cannot bring a new baby into the house," said Chloe Conaty.

"I am ringing the council every day to get someone come and repair the boiler, but I am still waiting. I have three small children and they are frozen. It is miserable.

"They are freezing when they get up to go to school. I'm worried about them getting sick.

"We have no hot water, the radiators aren't working, so I have now way of drying clothes either.

"My gas boiler stopped working seven weeks ago. I ring the council and they say they are putting in a request, but nothing happens.

"I am expecting a baby that is due in two weeks. How can I bring the baby here?"

She pointed out that Meath Co Council is her landlord. "If I stopped paying my rent, they wouldn't be long trying to take the house back.

"I'm a good tenant. I always pay my rent, but we are here, cold and miserable for the past seven weeks. I don't know how long this will go on. I cannot imagine what we will do if it goes on until Christmas, but my biggest worry is bringing a baby home here in two weeks," she concluded.

Another couple who have had no heat for the past six weeks are also angry that the council hasn't done anything to fix the issue.

"The hot tank started leaking when the council's plumber was putting in a new immersion heater," said the tenant.

"Now, we have had no heat for the past six weeks, because we were afraid to turn it on, in case it makes the situation worse.

"We are afraid that the leak in the tank will get worse and destroy the house. it is an awful mess as it is.

"I am 70-years-old and I feel the cold terribly. It is miserable. We shouldn't have to live like this. It's like living in the stone ages."

She said they ring the council every day and are told it will be fixed, but nobody ever comes.

"We don't now when it will be fixed. The leak started seven weeks ago and then about three weeks ago, another plumber came out and said it needed fixing, but we've heard nothing since.

"We have had no heat for seven weeks," she said.

Another council tenant who has been without heat for two weeks, is very worried as he has heard of a number of people left waiting months for repairs.

"I've had poor water pressure for the past few years, but the council did nothing about it. Now the heating has just stopped. We have been in contact with the council, but nothing is happening.

"I have three grandchildren, all under four and one is a new born, so they cannot come visit us.

"It is a disgrace. We pay our rent and look after the house and we should have this sorted out when it happens.

"I'm afraid we could still be without heat at Christmas. I've heard stories about people waiting months for repairs," he said.