Bethnal Green, East London – Abbi Brown, a 31-year-old wheelchair user, has been trapped in her flat for several days due to a broken lift at Chapter House, Bethnal Green.
Ms. Brown, who relies on a wheelchair for mobility, claims that property manager Crabtree refused to unlock an alternative access door that would have allowed her to use another functioning lift in the building.
The main lift in the building first broke down on Thursday. Despite engineers being dispatched over two days to fix it, the lift has since repeatedly malfunctioned.
On two separate occasions, Ms. Brown was informed that the lift was operational, only to find it broken upon her return, forcing her to crawl up the stairs in pain while her flatmate carried her wheelchair.
Ms. Brown has lived in Chapter House for several years and has repeatedly contacted Crabtree, explaining her predicament.
She alleges that Crabtree staff have been uncooperative, with one employee telling her over the phone, “When you live in a block of flats, you should expect that the lift will break sometimes.”
Ms. Brown describes this response as victim-blaming, stating, “It makes me feel like it’s my fault. They have no idea what it’s like looking for a property in London as a wheelchair user.”
She asserts that Crabtree’s refusal to unlock the alternative access door is unfounded, as the London Fire Brigade (LFB) confirmed there is no fire safety reason for the door to remain locked.
The LFB has since arranged a visit to Chapter House and has made contact with the building’s managing agent. A spokesperson for the LFB said, “We have spoken with the resident and, as a result, have made contact with the building’s managing agent.”
Ms. Brown’s experience highlights the difficulties faced by wheelchair users in London, particularly regarding accessibility and the responsiveness of property management.
Despite calling “constantly,” she claims Crabtree offered several excuses for not unlocking the door, including the assertion that it was a fire door that must remain locked, the distance of their central London office from east London and that the property manager was off sick.
The situation has left Ms. Brown feeling marginalized and blamed for the inconvenience caused by the lift’s breakdown. “It’s victim blaming,” she argued. “They make me feel like it’s my fault. This is a basic accessibility issue, and their response has been wholly inadequate.”
Crabtree has been contacted for a response but has yet to issue a statement regarding the matter. The ongoing lift issues have significantly impacted Ms. Brown’s ability to go about her daily life and have underscored the broader issue of accessibility for disabled individuals in housing.
As Ms. Brown awaits a resolution, the incident raises critical questions about the obligations of property managers to ensure accessible living conditions for all residents.
With the involvement of the London Fire Brigade, it is hoped that a swift resolution will be reached, restoring Ms. Brown’s mobility and independence within her home.
This article was created using automation technology and was thoroughly edited and fact-checked by one of our editorial staff members
