The housing association property, owned by Places for People has been left for a year without flooring.
A disabled woman desperate to be discharged from hospital has suffered further delays after a company made mistakes installing new flooring at her home. SCS has apologised and the job has since been completed by a self-employed fitter.
Claire Wood, who uses a wheelchair and registered blind, has been in hospital for two years longer than necessary because of a lack of suitable housing. Although she secured social housing a year ago, she has been unable to move in due to delays in the necessary adaptations.
She signed a contract with Places for People in June 2023 for a two-bedroom flat in Hartcliffe and has been liable for rent ever since. But the property was not adapted for a blind wheelchair user and getting suitable flooring and a ramp in the property were the two most important adaptations needed.
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SCS went to Claire’s home on March 11, 2024 to carry out an initial flooring fitting and then returned the following week to finish the job. But Claire says the underlay was not level and the floor space was not completed.
The firm returned again on April 3, this time with a new vinyl roll but it was not in the colour that had been ordered. Due to her visual impairment, Claire had spent hours choosing a suitable colour and said that the whole process has been exhausting because she has chronic fatigue syndrome and functional neurological disorder.
Claire told Bristol Live there were additional problems with the fitting. Two weeks later, surveyors were called in to check the condition of the floors after Claire complained.
After several discussions between SCS and Claire, a self-employed fitter returned to the flat on May 14 and carried out the fitting again. The work is now complete but Claire remains in hospital because she is still waiting for ramps to be fitted.
She said: “It’s taken two months to get a floor fitted that was bought and paid for by four different grants. I’ve been passed from pillar to post.
“I have limited support available and limited energy and mobility to be there in person or arrange for another person to attend on my behalf. It caused not only me but my family and support network so much stress and wasted hours.
“It means I’m still stuck in hospital. It will be two years on June 1 because of others’ mistakes, miscommunications and incompetence. With each mistake or miscommunication, more of my life is wasted.”
A spokesperson from SCS said: “We are sorry for the customer’s experience and have been in touch with a plan to find a resolution for the situation. We will continue to closely monitor progress through to completion.”
The housing association property is owned by Places for People but the adaptions are paid for by the Disabled Facilities Grant which in Claire’s case is administered with the support of Bristol City Council. Bristol City council and Places for People have been approached for a comment.
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