How to treat 85 year old war veterans, by Wandsworth Council

Last week I wrote to the Housing Department about an 85 year old war veteran in West Hill with serious health problems whose bedroom keeps getting flooded because of leaks from the flat of the council tenant above him. His bedspread is now a tarpaulin, his carpet squelches with the water it has absorbed and his insurance premiums have soared because he keeps having to claim to repair the damage he had no hand in causing. I know this because I visited and saw for myself on Saturday.

My constituent had repeatedly asked the council to sort out the leaks but no action had been taken. I was happy to step in to see if I could help him out. Yesterday I got a reply from the Housing Department. Here's what they wrote:

"Mr X is a leaseholder. Therefore, regardless of his age, health or military experience he is responsible for carrying out any works within his property...I do not feel that the fact that I was unable to agree to Mr X's suggestion means that I, or anyone else in this team, have been inconsiderate or uncaring and I do not feel that an apology is necessary. The responsibility to repair the damage lies with him."

Well, that may be the sort of reply Putney's Conservative MP, or the three Conservative Councillors for West Hill might find acceptable, but I don't.

Wandsworth Council is renowned for seeking to claim back all costs to its property caused by others - and rightly so. Now the boot is on the other foot and suddenly repeated damage to a war veteran's home caused from a property they own is "nothing to do with us gov".

I've got news for them: it is and I'm not going to stop until they honour their responsibilities and show a little bit more respect to someone who served their country and never asked for any help from anyone, until now. Look at the way the Tories respond: contemptibly.