The residents of a social housing residence in Saint-Gilles have no longer had access to hot water since June 14. Young children, sick and elderly people… Residents are suffering and Habitat du Gard has kept them waiting for more than three months.
Since June 14, 2024, 16 social housing units have been deprived of hot water in a residence in Saint-Gilles. This event adds to the numerous problems that residents have encountered over the past six months. The glass in the front door is broken, drinking water leaks are noted in the basement and the lights no longer turn off, which has an impact on the tenants’ bills. In addition, the basement lift pump is defective due to lack of maintenance, the firefighters had to intervene on July 26, 2024. And, since the garages are rented to non-residents, numerous thefts and burglaries have been clerk. “Whenever there is a problem, we contact Habitat du Gard. We are told that they will come to look and repair, but nothing changes and the problems accumulate,” testify the inhabitants.
Garages are flooded due to water leaks. • DR
“Hot water is taken when we don’t even have any”
Mehdi is a father, he has lived in this residence for around ten years. Since the hot water cut off, he has contacted Habitat du Gard, his social landlord, every week. “They tell us that the part they ordered is taking a long time to arrive, but it’s been more than three months. It’s very complicated because I have two young children. My daughters are three months and two years old. It’s starting to get cooler and cooler outside. Then, we continue to pay our charges, hot water is taken even though we don’t even have any.” assure Mehdi.
Mr. Benelhaddad, resident of the first floor, testifies: “My 56-year-old wife has Behçet’s disease, linked to inflammation of the blood vessels. She is very afraid of the cold in general so washing with cold water is very difficult for her. We are not in Africa here to not have access to hot water.” Residents feel neither listened to nor taken into consideration. “We are told each time “next week, it will be fixed” but nothing is done. Three months without hot water, we can’t take it anymore! I have to go wash my hair at a friends house,” explains a resident.
The social landlord assumes these responsibilities
“The breakdown is essentially due to the collective hot water tank which is leaking and a certain number of parts will have to be changed at the same time, in particular the 2500 liter tank, a primary circulator, a coaxial exchanger, two anodes and three electrical backups. The order-receipt time for the main part is very long”, informs an expert from Habitat du Gard. In this case, the company responsible for maintenance did not have the technical skills to repair the installation. Holder of a public contract, Habitat du Gard is subject to public jurisdiction. The social landlord was therefore obliged to use another company in accordance with the procedures of the public procurement code, and the deadlines were very long.
“Our aim is not to make a profit, but to house families with modest incomes, for very low rents. Habitat du Gard’s only resources are the tenants’ rents which are used to maintain the heritage, to carry out improvement work on our residences, to repay loans when we build a residence, to pay the salaries of our agents and taxes”, supports the social landlord. Habitat du Gard assumes all these responsibilities regarding the breakdown of the hot water tank. Faced with the inconvenience suffered by their tenants, the management decided to provide compensation of €100 per month without hot water and per family. This amount will be deducted from the tenants’ next rents.
“We don’t care if we’re compensated, we just want to have hot water! And they stop giving us deadlines that don’t hold up,” support residents. Habitat du Gard has sent them various official letters which ensure the installation of the collective hot water tank, each time with a new date. “According to the supplier, reception and repair are planned for the next few days,” assures the lessor to Objectif Gard. Hoping that hot water returns as soon as possible for these residents who have been waiting for more than three months.
