The Swindon branch of the community union ACORN is celebrating after helping to secure crucial and long-overdue repairs for a housing association tenant left in unsuitable conditions. 

Ana, whose name has been changed to preserve her identity, had been left living with her children in cold, damp and unsafe conditions for over a year 

Members of Swindon ACORN drew attention to the serious damage caused by a leaking flat roof, as well as drafty and water-damaged doors that had been left by a housing association.

The organisation wrote to the company and eventually was able to get the much-needed repairs booked in, which took place over a number of months, as well as securing Ana compensation of £520. 

Ana said: "I had been trying to get some quite basic repairs done for a year. The housing association had measured for replacement doors on several occasions. I had even been told they had been ordered, yet the work hadn’t been done.

"So many deadlines had been missed. The damp and gaps around the door meant that the kids and I were living in cold and unsuitable conditions.

"The drafty doors meant that I had been paying way above the odds for heating just to keep the house at a reasonable temperature.

“Since being with ACORN we’ve managed to get the housing people to come out and do the jobs that needed doing. Now we have a sense of security, I can lock up at night and my children and I can feel safe," Ana concluded. 

Francis Smith, an ACORN member, and sheltered housing resident, joined the action in support of Ana.

He said: "When the council tried to cut wardens in sheltered housing, I contacted ACORN. Over 9 months, they fought side by side with sheltered housing tenants to force the council to reverse their decision.

"I’ve seen firsthand what people power and an organised community can do, so I’m out here to make sure others have the housing and dignity they deserve."

Ed Colton, secretary of Swindon ACORN said: "Everyone deserves secure and safe housing, especially with the extortionate housing rates across the board for renters.

"This is yet another example of dodgy landlords, letting agents and housing associations who do not care about the quality of life of their tenants, even if small children are affected.

"These situations are becoming more and more common and the only way we can change things is by standing together, supporting each other and demanding change and better living conditions."