‘I can’t sleep in my own bedroom,’ because of leaking roof, says Maiden Lane tenant, Diana McCleary

Published: 03 March 2011
by JAMIE WELHAM

THE Town Hall has apologised to a grandmother battling one of the disorders that affected the “Elephant Man” after a leaking roof in her council home left her unable to sleep in her bedroom for five years.

Diana McCleary says she was repeatedly told that repairs had been completed on her roof, only to find water pouring into her flat on the Maiden Lane estate, King’s Cross, every time it rains.

Ms McCleary was born with a rare muscular disorder called fibromyalgia. It limits her mobility and means she needs two medically approved beds to hold her position when she sleeps. 

She has accused the council of ignoring her calls and says her condition has deteriorated because of the stress of having a bedroom out of action and sleeping upright on the sofa downstairs.

“I can’t sleep in my own bedroom. I understand these problems affect the whole estate, but I haven’t seen anything as far gone as this. What is really shocking is that they told me it had been repaired,” she said.

A Camden Council spokeswoman said: 

“We are sorry for the problems Ms McCleary has been experiencing at her property and we are doing everything we can to resolve them. 

“Maintenance officers have attended the flat to address the leak, which they thought was coming from faulty plumbing in the property above. 

“However, further inspection has shown it is a problem with the roof and a surveyor has been scheduled to visit this week and will be fixing it as soon as possible.”

Ms McCleary added: “My condition gets worse with stress and it’s not good for me to sleep sitting up on the sofa, which is what I have to do because of the water and dust upstairs.”