Elderly woman left 'prisoner' in Portsmouth block of flats after lift breaks

Frail Mary Pickin, 92, has been left stuck on the second floor of her rented flat at residential block Peelers Gate, Cosham, after struggling to get up and down the stairs.

The lift has been broken since January, leaving many of the residents facing difficulties in the Wayte Street block.

Residents have been sent notices telling the 30 flat owners to cough up £11,000 to have the lift repaired.

The pensioner’s situation has been compounded by the reality she is not even the leaseholder as she rents her flat – raising questions over whether she is liable to pay for the lift repairs.

Her grandson Neil White posted a tweet of Mary, who has to use a wheelchair on occasions, struggling to get up the stairs.

He said: ‘She finds it extremely difficult to navigate two flights of stairs. I made her climb the stairs last week and as a result she suffered injuries to her sides and arms where she was attempting to “pull” herself up.

‘She is not confident about using the stairs again. I feel angry that her health is being compromised for a mere £11,000. There does not seem to be an emergency reserve fund to cater for this or the willingness to acquire a loan to pay for repairs.

‘My grandmother’s health is likely to deteriorate if this situation continues as anticipated. She feels imprisoned.

Michelle Williams, a friend of people who live in the block, said: ‘Many people have been left marooned on upper floors with no way to get down to the shops or for people with babies to get up to their flats with children and shopping.’

Nick Faulkner, managing director of Alexander Faulkner Properties, said: ‘We are in constant communication with owners and their representatives in the building as this matter progresses.‘It is anticipated that the funding for this work will be met through the current reserve position held for this client.

‘As a business, we have every sympathy with the current predicament the leaseholders are experiencing, however we are bound by the legislation. Our clients are unfortunately facing more frequent consultation processes and delays in urgent works as a result.’