A mum who lives in a council flat in Tilehurst continues to face a fight to get her cooker, electricity and other appliances to an acceptable standard.
Elaine Parry has been living in a Reading Borough Council flat in Corwen Road on her own since 2019.
She has had repeated issues with facilities and utilities that stretch back to the winter of 2020.
Ms Parry is currently complaining about being unable to use her cooker, claiming that repair staff have “bodged up the electrics”, among other complaints.
She said: “It’s to do with them coming in, altering my meter, and then the cooker started going down.
“They promised me, and the neighbour, a new kitchen – mine in 2021, the neighbour in 2022 – and nothing’s been done.
“Do the kitchen, as you promised in 2021.”
Ms Parry previously faced freezing conditions due to issues with the heating and electrical system.
She said: “All told, I’ve only had heating for about an hour or two in six years.”
Furthermore, she has complained about fixtures in the bathroom, which includes a hole in the wall where a vent should be, and security for the door to her balcony.
Ms Parry said: “The balcony door needs changing and a new key and a lock, but it’s never been done.
“There’s a crack in the bath panel in the bathroom, which has been there from day one, which was caused by the people who did the plumbing.
“I keep telling these council, but they do nothing, they won’t act on my behalf. They won’t do anything about it.”
While improvements such as a fix to the toilet cistern were made in February, Ms Parry claims she has been charged for work which hasn’t been completed.
She claimed: “They keep banging on about this big job they’ve done. They’ve given me about six invoices for the same thing that was never done anyway!”
Pleading with the council, Ms Parry said: “Even when I put complaints in, nothing happens. Please treat me fairly – but they’re not.”
“I’m sick of going to the council trying to get help. I get nowhere.”
“They’re abusing my human rights by leaving me without heating.”
The council was asked whether it would provide a new cooker and kitchen, fix the heating and electrical system, and investigate the security of her balcony door.
Responding to these points, a council spokesperson said: “Complaints have been investigated and dealt with, and we continue to liaise with Ms Parry to establish issues and make improvements where needed.
“A kitchen replacement at the property is scheduled to take place during our current programme of works, which will take place during the current financial year.
“The tenant will be contacted about this in due course to arrange a survey.
“The heating and hot water system was inspected in December 2025 and then looked at again upon request in February this year, where it was confirmed to be in working order.
“The issue appears to be around a lack of usage to reduce utility bills.
“We will contact the tenant again to provide advice on how to balance this more effectively.
“We do not have a record of work required for the balcony door or bathroom, but we will contact the tenant to make appointments to attend the property and assess these.”
