AN ELDERLY woman had no central heating for six months and could not access hot meals for nearly four months after ongoing struggles with her social housing provider.

Delia Miller, 93, had no central heating after Stonewater turned off the boiler for the building at Warren Court in Bournemouth. 

Stonewater provided an electric heater after Delia’s granddaughter, Rachel Watton, said her elderly gran was struggling with health problems.

The electric heater, which left Delia ‘confined to one room’ and was ‘extremely expensive’ to run, ended up costing thousands of pounds.

Rachel said: “We were told that we would be reimbursed for the cost of the electric heater, which they have not done.”

Rachel ‘pleaded’ for Stonewater to install heating in her grandmother's flat, and they fitted a new boiler in October.

The new boiler was installed ‘far too close’ to her fuse box, and the power was cut to Delia’s cooker, leaving her without hot meals for Christmas.

The boiler has since been moved after Rachel called a private electrician. 

Rachel said the electrician had deemed the previous location of the boiler as a fire hazard. 

When professionals came to move Delia’s boiler, damage was inflicted to the flat,  wallpaper was ripped off the walls and holes smashed into the plaster.

Rachel said: “They haven’t told us anything.

"We have been left with a huge electricity bill to pay off, a hallway that looks like a nightmare, no communications from Stonewater and no refunds.”

Helena Doyle, customer experience director, wellbeing and support for Stonewater, said: “We are really sorry that Ms Miller hasn’t received the service she should expect.

"Our intention was to upgrade the existing communal heating at Warren Court to provide a more energy-efficient system that individual customers have more control over.

“It is really disappointing that this work hasn’t been completed satisfactorily.

“We acknowledge that part of the installation was in the wrong place and damage to Ms Miller’s home has occurred.

“Our head of gas safety and water hygiene is scheduled to visit Ms Miller this week to rectify any outstanding issues.

“We will also confirm the payment due to Ms Miller to reimburse her for the use of electric heaters while this work was underway and the compensation due to her for damage caused.”