A student residence hall in Newington Green has not had hot water for nearly two weeks, a tenant has told Islington Now.
One of the blocks in Alliance House, which houses 212 students, has had ongoing issues with its supply since 5 March.
After a repair made on the same day initially restored hot water to A block, a second fault was identified on 7 March which affected the lower floors.
City, University of London postgraduate student Alesia Fiddler claimed she hasn’t had hot water since 2 March.
“I don’t feel clean. I’ve had to use kettles to boil hot water, pour them into a washing up bowl, and then use a cup to wash with because the shower’s too cold,” she told Islington Now.
Fiddler added that residents have been offered alternative communal shower facilities. However, upon enquiring about this with the accommodation reception on one occasion, she claims she was told maintenance couldn’t find the key to this shower.
Nevertheless, paying over £770 a month for an en-suite room, Fiddler felt that residents should receive some form of compensation for the inconvenience. However, she was told that this would not be possible as alternative shower facilities have been provided.
“It’s not fair that we’re paying this for a communal shower,” she noted.
A spokesperson for Sanctuary Students, a UK student accommodation provider which offers social housing, said that a contractor will be completing the required repairs when the replacement heat pump arrives on 16 March.
They added: “We’d like to thank our students for their patience while we have been resolving this issue and, in the meantime, we have offered additional support to those affected by providing various items including extra kettles for washing up water, as well as ensuring that alternative shower facilities have been available.”
