PENSIONERS have slammed Thurrock Council for failing to deal with a string of re-development problems at a Grays sheltered housing complex.

Residents say contractor Lakehouse has made a number of high profile errors as they renovate homes at Attlee Court and have not finished work that, they say, should have been completed weeks ago.

Problems have included leaving a mess at the end of the day, breaking appliances and failing to turn up on schedule.

Resident David Snashall, is a former painter and decorator and said the works had left many elderly folk at the complex feeling disillusioned.

“We simply cannot believe this. There are a lot of people here who have been affected by delays and mistakes and it is not good enough. Work on my home started five weeks ago and we will be lucky if the works are completed by Christmas.

“We have called a meeting with the contractor but nothing was really resolved. We just want the work finished and a bit of respect shown for the people that live here.”

Maureen Dennis, 77, said: “I had a bayonet broken on my cooker and before long the property was full of gas. The builder said it was the smell of paint but when the gas company arrived they said if it hadn’t been sorted I could have been blown to bits.”

The council’s £3.8million contract with Lakehouse is part of the ‘Transforming Homes’ scheme and includes refurbishing and improving 420 homes in the borough.

A council spokesperson said work on each property should take around 20 days.

He said: “The council met with several residents of Attlee Court when they expressed concerns about initial problems as the work got underway. We have worked with residents and the contractor to resolve these quickly at a time when we are refurbishing around 2000 council homes a year.

“The contracts have clear requirements about quality and minimising disruption to residents and the contractors know that we expect them to take those issues seriously.

“Depending on the work required in each home, improvement works could involve refurbishing kitchens and bathrooms, insulation and replacing windows and roofing. Some homes will need more work than others.”