ELDERLY tenants in New Southgate are fighting for compensation after suffering regular loss of heating and hot water for a year.

According to residents living on the Ladderswood Estate, in Ladderswood Way, New Southgate, the old boiler in the basement of the main block, Curtis House, breaks down two or three times a week.

Cash-strapped pensioners Bob Edwards and Brian Stewart told the Independent the boiler was usually fixed within days, but they had to pay around £1,000 each over the past year to heat water for washing and to power expensive fan heaters to keep warm while repairs were carried out.

Now the residents, who pay for heating and hot water on top of their rent, fear the estate is being neglected because Enfield Council might be planning to demolish it.

Mr Stewart, 67, who worked all his life as a dustman for Barnet Council, said he had to pay an average extra £22 a week on electricity when the boiler breaks down because like many others on a low income, he has a key meter in his flat.

“We’ve worked all our lives and we end up with less cash in our hands than people on benefits,” he said.

“It [Enfield Homes] is happy to let us live in appalling conditions until they pull the estate down.”

He added: “A lot of people here don’t speak English and I’d say 80 per cent live on benefit, so the council knows they won’t complain.”

Former chauffeur Mr Edwards, 73, who is billed for his electricity, said his extra weekly costs ran to £15.

“I’ve lived here for 40 years. When I first moved into this place it was really nice, but over the years it’s deteriorated.

“There’s so much wrong with the buildings but they won’t have it.

“We’ve paid our rent all these years and now they say they do not have money to make repairs.”

A spokeswoman for Enfield Homes said the boiler was currently working, although she admitted that “on occasions intermittent faults have occurred”.

“The long-term plans for the boilers at Curtis House will be determined as part of our prudent overall approach to stock investment and in the context of the council asset management strategy.”

She added: “Enfield Homes has already agreed a compensation package for residents.”

However Mr Roberts claimed he had heard nothing from the company that manages the housing in the borough on behalf of Enfield Council.