Elderly Birmingham Residents Trapped for Days After Lift Breakdown
Distraught elderly residents in a Birmingham apartment block have been effectively trapped in their homes for six days and counting after a critical lift failure, with many unable to leave due to severe mobility issues. The situation has sparked outrage among relatives and residents who describe the delay in repairs as "not acceptable."
Residents Feel Abandoned by Housing Provider
The three-storey block off Pershore Road in Kings Norton houses older residents, many of whom rely on the lift for daily access. Since the breakdown on Monday, those on the upper two floors have been unable to exit their apartments, leading to feelings of abandonment by property managers Sanctuary, one of the UK's largest housing and care providers.
Despite residents reporting the issue immediately, Sanctuary only arranged for lift engineers to properly investigate on Friday, February 27, after being alerted by media. The investigation revealed that a specialist part was needed for repairs, which has now been ordered, but the company cannot guarantee when the lift will be operational again.
Severe Impact on Vulnerable Residents
A 75-year-old resident on the top floor explained that his wife, who uses a wheelchair, has been completely housebound since the breakdown, missing a landmark birthday event. Other affected neighbours include an electric chair user and a 92-year-old living alone.
The breakdown has also caused practical hardships: one resident moving into a first-floor apartment this week had to have all furniture and kitchen appliances carried up the stairs manually. "Obviously that's in our minds now and we don't want to risk anyone coming to harm," said a resident, referencing a previous incident where a mobility-impaired neighbour fell on the stairs during a briefer lift outage last year.
Communication Failures and Security Concerns
Residents have expressed frustration over limited communication from Sanctuary regarding the repair timeline. Additionally, they have been reporting a broken security entrance gate for three months without resolution. This has allowed young people to enter the complex recently, where they were found sniffing nitrous oxide balloons.
Residents pay a monthly service charge exceeding £250 per apartment, which is supposed to cover maintenance of communal areas, gardens, security, and external window cleaning. Many sold their family homes to downsize to this managed complex for perceived safety and peace of mind.
Sanctuary's Response and Ongoing Issues
Sanctuary Housing Association, which manages over 125,000 homes across England and Scotland with an annual turnover of £589 million, issued a statement. A spokesperson said: "The issue with the lift was reported on Monday 23 February and our external contractor immediately attended the site to investigate. The lift engineers have identified the repairs that are needed and we can reassure residents that the work will be completed as soon as the specialist, replacement parts arrive."
They added that extra support would be offered to residents until the lift is restored, and work on the security gates would be completed shortly. The company apologized for the delays and said individual welfare checks would now be conducted across the block.
