‘When it gets really cold I’m living in my bedroom’

Colin said he sometimes needs to decide whether to eat or keep his home warm because of the insulation problems

Colin said he has to live in one room when it gets cold because heating his flat is too expensive.

Insulation from his flats in Bracknell was removed in 2023 as part of renovation work but has yet to be replaced.

Silva Homes installed heating in Boyd Court but Colin said paying for it means he sometimes needs to choose to eat or heat his home.

“Because I’ve been on sickness benefit for a year now, when it gets really cold I’m living in one room, which is my bedroom,” Colin said.

Abri, which has merged with Silva Homes, said it will write to residents soon to tell them about future work.

“It’s cold anyway but I had a letter from Silva Homes that they were doing the insulation through the summer. Well, it hasn’t been done," Colin added.

Colin, who is 60, said he had worked all his life but for the last year has been living off sickness benefits for health reasons.

“As for the insulation, at the moment it’s cold but I can get by without any heating on. The heaters are all very nice but they’re just so expensive to run.

“All the flats are all electric and being on a pay-as-you-go meter means you’re sometimes deciding whether to eat or keep warm.”

Abri said work should start at Boyd Court next month

Tim Hall, lead asset partner at Abri, said Silva Homes expects to start work next month: "Work is expected to begin next month, taking eight to 10 weeks, with an aim to complete a significant proportion before Christmas.

“We have monitored the temperature in several flats, all of which are maintaining comfortable levels. We have and will continue to closely support any customers facing difficulties with energy costs," he added.

"We’ll be updating customers this week with further details on the planned works, as well as a reminder of the support available.”

Additional reporting by Ruth Lucas, local democracy reporter