Flats in Harborough set to be improved after vulnerable tenants were left freezing during the recent wintry blast of snow and ice

Council chiefs are vowing to modernise three flats in Market Harborough this summer after vulnerable tenants were left freezing during the recent wintry blast of snow and ice.

Harborough District Council is pledging to overhaul and improve the sub-standard bedsits after the distraught residents’ bitter plight was highlighted by Cllr Barbara Johnson.

The local authority is acting after Cllr Johnson filed a question to the full council meeting on Monday night (February 22) demanding urgent action.

The Liberal Democrat councillor for Logan ward in Market Harborough said she was outraged because tenants couldn’t afford to turn on their heating as temperatures plunged below zero.

“There is a modernisation plan for these properties planned for summer 2021 which will include improved insulation and more efficient heating.

“This property was acquired in March 2020 to support the council’s priority to prevent homelessness and support homeless households. “The building was already use for flats and some immediate works were undertaken to install storage heaters and some other improvements to make them habitable,” said Harborough council.

“We were just entering Covid and needed to urgently house people even those we wouldn’t normally have a duty to, to ensure people were off of the streets and as safe as they could be.

“Unfortunately, there was no mains gas supply to the flats, which are all on electrical prepayment meters.

“In March, due to the pandemic, emergency works, including installation of new 3.3kw storage heaters, were carried out swiftly so that the properties could become operational as fast as possible. “Storage heaters are more expensive to run - and must be left at pre-programmed settings in order to be most efficient,” added the council.

“During the recent cold weather the difficulty this has posed for occupants is understandable and as a result the heating bills are admittedly high, but are expected for this type of heating in an older building.

“Our records show that electricity top-ups for the flat with the highest bills totalled £510 since November 30, 2020.

“This equates to £6 per day.

“The council will always look to support any individual in financial hardship.”

The council said its Housing Team made “discretionary contributions” towards electricity bills in January and February which “significantly reduced the average daily charge”.

“The council will continue to support where appropriate.

“There is also support available via the council’s community hub.

“This includes referrals for food parcels and signposting to several charities offering direct financial support towards food and fuel,” said the council.

“The objective overall all is to increase the supply of self-contained temporary accommodation within the district and reduce reliance on Bed & Breakfast accommodation in Leicester City and other areas.”

Cllr Johnson, who was the council’s chairman in 2019-20, replied: “I am grateful for the honest reply admitting overcharging of tenants. “There were indeed several issues arising here which impacted badly on vulnerable and unsuspecting tenants.

“I can only hope that this never happens again.”

But she insisted that the council did not explain or clarify its contract with the fuel company – or make a commitment to reassure tenants.

“Tenants were trapped in a situation where they were reliant on the goodwill of the council to help them out with irregular payments.

“And how insulting to suggest they apply to charities when it was not their fault!

“This was entirely the council’s responsibility,” said Cllr Johnson.

“This should never happen again to our vulnerable tenants in Market Harborough or indeed across our entire district.”