A disabled woman has had to spend three weeks in hotels due to a broken lift in her housing block.

Althea Khan suffers from MS and is wheelchair bound. She needs a hoist to help her get in and out of bed and suffers from depression.

She lives on the sixth floor of Sinclair House, West Ealing and for the last four years she has either been stuck inside her flat or out on the street on a monthly basis due to a faulty lift.

Althea Khan with her son Adam

Residents say that A2 Dominion who manage the flats do not take their complaints seriously and should now replace the lift.

Althea Khan said: “I get severe depression if I can’t leave the flat. But if I go out I never know whether I can get back home. Recently I spent three weeks in three different hotels as the lift broke down. These hotels do not have hoists. My son Adam has to take time off college to come with me and help.

“The other aspect is when I’m stuck in the flat my carers have to come up six flights of stairs which is a nightmare for them.

“I feel utterly helpless. A2 Dominion do not take us seriously. This has been an ongoing nightmare for me and it’s got much worse in recent months.”

Chadia Diallo, 24, lives on the sixth floor and has two children aged six and four and is pregnant with her third. She said: “You can’t imagine how much of a nightmare this has been. When you have buggies and shopping, two children and a pregnancy it is hell. The lift has been breaking regularly ever since I moved in which was six years ago. But in the last six months it has been breaking every week. In the past it has remained broken for two and even three weeks.

Stairs in Sinclair House, West Ealing, which residents have to climb every time the lift is broken

"You can go out shopping and not know whether you can get back home. A2 Dominion do not seem to care. It is time for a new lift.”

David Lingeman, A2Dominion’s Group Director of Property Services, said: “We regret that there have been issues with the lift at Sinclair House in Ealing.

“Recent faults have been caused by vandalism. We are currently investigating this matter and installing a CCTV system to help prevent further acts of vandalism.

“We recognise the inconvenience the lift faults have caused to Ms Khan, and have supported her as much as possible when it has been out of order.

“Whenever an issue with the lift is reported to us, contractors have attended within one working day to make repairs, and we would like to reassure all Sinclair House residents that we always work as quickly as possible to restore services.

“In addition, to better meet Ms Khan’s needs, she has requested a move to a ground-floor home and we are currently supporting her to find more suitable accommodation.”