Reading mum's housing nightmare as sinks become blocked

Elaine Parry-Taylor has complained twice to the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) that her council flat in Corwen Road is stricken with mould and in a poor state of repair.

In October last year, her home was found to be plagued with mould, and in March, the LDRS found the kitchen light switch exposed and Ms Parry-Taylor resorting to putting up cardboard and a sleeping bag for insulation against the cold.

Now, drainage in her flat is clogged, forcing her to get rid of excess water in the sink by using a bucket to gather it and pour it into her toilet.

When the LDRS attended on Tuesday, April 12, Parry-Taylor was washing her clothes, which led to water coming up from through the sinks.

Brown stagnant water could be seen in her toilet sink.

Elaine Parry-Taylor has been left to do her plate washing in her bath. Credit: James Aldridge, Local Democracy Reporting Service

She has asked for the council to fix the issue, as well as the other problems in the flat, but has been sent ‘back and forth’ the council’s offices and fixers at Bennet Road.

Ms Parry-Taylor said: “I don’t want to tamper with it because I don’t want to mess things up and end up having to pay.

“The council does petty jobs for other people but they won’t even look at this.

“They offer me no service. It makes my life a misery.”

“They’re wicked. They make my life a misery.”

Elaine Parry-Taylor has to drain the kitchen sink herself using a bucket when the water level gets too high. Credit: James Aldridge, Local Democracy Reporting Service

Ms Parry-Taylor has a long running claim that the council owes her a two bedroom home so that she can be reunited with her adult daughter.

She has kept herself occupied through her artwork, which includes painting and sewing, but asked for these not to be pictured after some of her art “went missing.”

She has also argued it is the council’s responsibility to pay for her housing bills.

Replying to the issues raised, a council spokesperson said:  “Reading Borough Council hasn’t received any notification from Ms Parry-Taylor regarding her blocked drains, however based on the information we have received we will request that a job is raised to have this looked at.

“This will be reliant on being able to gain access to the property which has been an issue for us on numerous occasions previously.

“In relation to the mould issues, we gave Ms Parry-Taylor advance notice that we would visit on 29th March to carry out a survey to look at options to resolve the problem but upon arrival access was not provided.

“Ms Parry-Taylor can apply to be moved to a 2-bedroom flat but as yet no application has been received.

“It is the responsibility of all tenants to pay their utility bills, but once we are able to meet with Ms Parry-Taylor we will be able to provide her with debt and financial advice which is available to all our tenants.”