A disabled man who has been fighting to move from his fourth floor flat feels he is “a prisoner” in his own property after emergency repair works closed off the ramp he uses to leave the complex.
Ahmed Al-Qahtani, who is on medication to deal with a string of physical and mental health problems, relies on the generosity of neighbours and a local taxi firm for basic necessities such as food and money.
After years of fighting Hammersmith and Fulham Council for a property more suitable for his needs, he says thoughts of suicide have entered his mind.
Hammersmith and Fulham Council told getwestlondon it will work with contractors to help Mr Al-Qahtani while the maintenance project is on-going, and pay for takeaway meals. It will also look at his long-term living arrangements.
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Mr Al-Qahtani has lived in Walham Green Court, off Fulham Broadway, since 2002, but has been trying to move from his flat for several years, with letters from medical and mental health experts experts supporting him.
Despite this, his requests have been refused.
To compound matters, emergency work to repair a leak in the complex’s podium has resulted in ramps which he relies on to access his car being sealed off.
His only other option is to walk to the Fulham Broadway entrance ramp and then use a small flight of stairs - something the 48-year-old says he is not physically capable of.
Mr Al-Qahtani walks with great difficulty with crutches.
He has severe back problems and his spasms often ripple through his body.
He also has mental health problems, asthma, chest pain and rheumatism.
Work on the podium started on October 12 and is due to run until November 24. He has been trapped in the flat since October 29, when the ramps were closed.
He said: “I’m struggling. I’m a prisoner in my own home. I feel like going out on the balcony and ending my own life.
“I borrow money from friends and give a shopping list to my friend at the taxi firm.
“On Tuesday (October 31) I was unable to eat anything all day until 8pm.”
So tired is he with his battle with Hammersmith and Fulham council, he now wants to live out of the borough.
“I want a ground floor flat. I need to move from here. It’s not a healthy property . The lift often breaks down," he said.
'Where is my dignity? Where is my freedom?'
“I feel like I’m not a human being. Like I’m being punished for being disabled.
“I feel like ‘why are they doing this to me? What have I done?’
“Where is my dignity? Where is my freedom?
“My illness is getting worse and I worry I will die in this flat.
“I want to move from this borough. I want to go to Kensington and Chelsea or Westminster .”
A spokesman for Hammersmith and Fulham Council said it had contacted Mr Al-Qahtani and agreed to support him during the works.
It is organising for contractors to buy and deliver daily groceries, as well as covering the cost of a £10 takeaway meal each day while emergency works take place.
The spokesman said the local authority would look at finding Mr Al-Qahtani a new permanent home.
On Friday November 10, Cllr Lisa Homan, cabinet member for housing at Hammersmith and Fulham Council, said: "I am sorry Mr Al-Qahtani felt that his concerns were not being addressed.
“We try extremely hard to work with disabled residents to make sure situations like this don’t happen.
"That is why we launched our resident-led Disability Commission, which will publish its report in the new year.”
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