Pensioners say they feel “neglected” after going months with a broken heating system in their sheltered accommodation.

Enfield Council-run Bramley House Court, home to around 30 people aged between 65 and 90, has had no hot water at regular intervals since Christmas.

According to the residents, people have become ill because of the lack of heating, with one woman having to spend three weeks in hospital.

The council now say the problem has been fixed, but those living in Bramley House say they have lost confidence and respect in the system.

Long term resident Vicky Dungate said: “This is a big house, when the heating goes down it gets very cold, and it has not been dealt with. We feel neglected, we have had to fend for ourselves.

“At one point we had no hot water for a week, and when we call the management they seem to have no idea what is going on. It is a constant battle to get anything done.

“We are senior citizens living in sheltered housing, we are supposed to have more support than normal, yet we feel we are being ignored. We are only asking for something which should be a basic right.”

Ms Dungate said they met with Enfield’s head of sheltered housing in February, and were promised the problems would be dealt with, but say nothing was done.

Her opinion is one shared by the majority of the others living in Bramley House Court.

Denis Green, 82, said: “They promised to send temporary heaters too, but they never arrived.

“They don’t care, dealing with the council has been a waste of time.”

Dennis McDaley added when he returned from holiday, he had found his clothes covered in mould because of the damp in his room due to having no heating.

He said: “It is a health hazard.

“It used to be you could call with a problem and someone would come the following day. Now you wait in all day, all week, and there is no guarantee someone will show up.

“We are vulnerable, and should have priority.”

Enfield Council spokesperson Andrew Golder said they “regret the inconvenience caused to residents at Bramley House Court”.

He said: "Our contractors have been out to the Court on a number of occasions over the past week and have had no further reports of problems since last Thursday.

"We are pleased that specialist cleansing of the system has been carried out over the past few months and that the heating and hot water system remains fully operational.

“There is a dedicated sheltered housing team at the council – they would be the first point of contact for residents."