Thirteen floor flat residents have no lift
The escalator at Flamingo Court in Umbilo has been out of order for nearly a month causing major inconveniences for residents and posing a health hazard for the elderly and frail.
FLAMINGO Court residents are fed up with having to use the stairs at the Umbilo apartment building, due the the elevator being broken for nearly a month.
Long time resident at Flamingo Court, Lillian Botes said her parents are just two of the many elderly people living at the flats and the out of order elevator has been a major inconvenience.
“My father was coming home from a check-up at the hospital and after having two very bad falls at the hospital, we needed three people to carry him up the stairs. If the lift had been working as it should we wouldn’t have needed to carry such a sick old man up the stairs. We live on the seventh floor!” said Botes.
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According to Botes, paramedics who visited the flat when her mother was ill, noted that a 13 floor flat should have a working elevator, “The ambulance service people said that by law the lift can’t be broken at a flat,” she said.
Botes said the lift has been out of order since early March and there have been no signs of the elevator getting fixed anytime soon, “I have been in contact with the body corporate and they said there is a property damage problem on the seventh floor that is preventing them from fixing the elevator but we have no idea when that problem will be solved.”
The issue not only affects the elderly but also mothers with newborns and disabled people who live at the flats, “There are lots of new mothers and other people who have problems walking, there are so many people living here who are inconvenienced by the broken lift,” she said.
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Attorney for Flamingo Court, Ashlyn Kandhai said the body corporate for Flamingo Court is aware of the issue and appropriate arrangements have been made to solve the problem, “The body corporate has a dedicated monthly maintenance plan with Schindler Lifts to ensure that the lift is in optimal working order. Around March 14, the trustees became aware of lift being severely vandalised.
“A notice was sent out to all residents informing them of same and a reward was offered to anyone who had information that would lead to the successful prosecution of the perpetrator/s. This deliberate damage was not covered by the monthly maintenance plan,” he said.
Kandhai said a quotation for repairs had been obtained and Schindler Lifts have been paid to commence with repairs which includes the manufacture and replacement of a custom door.
“We are awaiting on Schindler Lifts to complete repairs and anticipate lift to be operational shortly.
There has been a delay of approximately 3 – 4 weeks due to the body corporate ensuring that its operational budget would not be compromised by the unforeseen repairs,” said Kandhai.
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