PENSIONERS have been left angered after being told by housing association bosses that they face a £60 charge – just to change a light bulb.

Residents of Doreen Wellfare House, in Eastleigh, have been told that the charge will apply to minor maintenance work – including changing a bulb.

They described their disbelief after a newsletter from Radian to residents stated that from now on they would be expected to pay £60 each time they need the basic domestic task done.

But bosses at Radian say they have a number of expenses to cover, now that the block’s handyman has left the firm, until they get a replacement.

Other housing associations in Hampshire contacted by the Daily Echo indicated that in such cases they would deem the resident responsible for dealing with such problems themselves.

Although one said they would do it on residents’ behalf, this would incur a substantial administration and call out charge.

Residents at Doreen Wellfare House, which provides sheltered accommodation for the elderly, range from their 60s to 90s and some argue that those without family and friends to help may struggle to afford the fee.

A letter from Radian, which runs the accommodation, in Yonge Close, says: “Radian now charges approximately £60 for each light bulb that may need changing in your flat.”

The service, it says, was previously done free by the premises’ handyman, but he left his job at Christmas and Radian says that until he can be replaced that is the charge.

Jenny Rafis, 66, said that she plans to fight against it.

She said: “It’s disgusting. It’s sheltered accommodation, they’re supposed to help you.

“I’m lucky, I have got people I can call on, but there are a few people here who have got very f e w friends or relatives.”

She added: “None of us should be standing on chairs, we’re all OAPs. They are targeting people who are not going to fight it. Are people going to have an accident?”

Resident Maddy Bowman, 63, said that residents already pay a £21-a-month service charge, but Radian says that this is for maintenance and cleaning of communal areas only.

“It’s unfair,” she said. “The injustice is the £60. That’s the call-out fee for a professional if you live in your own home – we pay a service charge.”

Daily Echo:

A 45-year-old woman, from Eastleigh, who has an elderly relative living in the flats, added: “They cannot get away with charging £60 to change a light bulb for anybody, let alone somebody who is ill or infirm or elderly who can’t, for health reasons, get up on a chair.

“It’s taking advantage of vulnerable people.”

Councillor Keith Trenchard, who represents the Eastleigh Central ward on Eastleigh Borough Council, said: “We have to look after our elderly folk.

“It’s quite a lot. If they need just a light bulb changing it’s a big chunk out of their savings.”

The flats do not have a permanent warden on site, but do have an independent living officer, who answers emergency alarm calls when on duty, but Radian said that changing light bulbs was not part of their job.

Radian said that it did have a handyman at its other independent living properties who replaces light bulbs free, and that it was recruiting to bring in a new handyman “as soon as possible”.

'Our agreement obliges certain repairs'

A SPOKESWOMAN for Radian said that it did try to provide free help with services for residents in independent living accommodation, where possible.

But she said that like anyone living in their own home, when residents needed minor repairs or tasks, they needed to make their own arrangements, either hiring someone or getting help from friends or family.

She said that residents’ tenancy agreements oblige them to make certain repairs, which includes light bulbs.

“At present we do not have anyone available at Doreen Wellfare House who can carry out these types of jobs and so at the residents’ request we would need to call out one of our repair team; there are a number of related costs associated with doing so.

“Radian’s independent living officers would at no point leave a vulnerable person in the dark.
These officers have the discretion in exceptional cases to waive the cost.”