Residents 'isolated' in flats due to broken lift

Heather Anson described the lift as a "running joke" among residents

Residents at a block of flats in Sheffield say their lift has been broken for several months leaving some feeling "isolated".

About 70 people living in the Pinsent building, in Millsands, have been unable to use the lift since May and say it had been consistently breaking down for a year before.

Heather Anson, who lives on the third floor, said she had been forced to work from home as a result, due to living with a condition which can affect her ability to walk

A spokesperson for FirstPort, who manage the building, said they "recognise the challenges" the broken lift has caused and have been "extensively exploring all possible repair options".

Ms Anson said: "It was almost a running joke, if you got in the lift people would say cross your fingers, bring some food and your phone, you don't know how long you'll be in there."

She said she had a neurological condition which can cause muscle weakness meaning she "can't physically walk up and down the stairs".

"I can sometimes grip the railings so I don't fall and then I can lie on the floor, but if I have anything in my hands I don't feel safe."

She said she had been given an extra key fob to access an adjacent building where the lift is working, but the uncertainty over the lift had affected her working patterns.

"We have offices in Barnsley but I work from home because I don't know if I can get in or out the building, so I feel isolated here," she said.

Emma O'Kelly, who has epilepsy, has lived in the building for 11 years and says she had been left feeling "anxious" about using the lift.

"My partner got stuck in there for 45 minutes and then my brother got stuck in there for two hours," she said.

"I've previously had a seizure in the corridor and my neighbours were able to get my partner, but if that was on the stairs it could cause serious injury."

In a statement a spokesperson for FirstPort said: "Due to its age and condition, our specialist lift engineers have confirmed that a modernisation upgrade is now required to make sure the lift is reliable and cost-effective for homeowners in the longer term.

"We will complete this work as quickly as possible, while making sure we are consulting with homeowners and keeping them regularly updated throughout this process."

FirstPort has apologised for the inconvenience caused to residents

FirstPort has previously been criticised by residents in Sheffield over their end of year bills.

And, in January, more than 30 MPs wrote to the company to raise the concerns of residents living in other properties it manages in the West of England.

Sheffield Central MP Abtisam Mohammed, who signed the letter, said it was "alarming" that residents in Millsands had not had their issues resolved.

"I have been clear with First Port and other property management companies in Sheffield where standards are consistently poor, where residents have been charged extortionate and unaffordable service charges, and where there is a lack of transparency; they must take immediate action," she said.

"This is why I have set up a leaseholders group in Sheffield that will meet regularly to report issues and hold property management companies to account.

"Residents deserve better than piecemeal communication and sub-standard service."

Listen to highlights from South Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North