‘I can feel it in my throat’: Elderly woman left in council flat smelling of gas for four years

An elderly woman has been left by her council in a flat despite complaining that she can smell gas for nearly four years.

Rachel Ramsey, 84, of Black Prince Road, Lambeth, said she has become ill after living with a smell of gas in her kitchen and bedroom since February 2020.

She said: “I have got asthma and I can feel it in my throat and chest when I’m breathing in the flat.

“I can’t cook or eat in here because of the smell. It’s every day and every night.

“I have to eat outside my flat. I sit by the allotment or go to the bingo hall.”

Ms Ramsey said she first thought the smell was coming from a fault in the boiler so she called her gas company, Cadent.

She said: “The people at the gas company said it wasn’t the boiler.

“They said it wasn’t raw gas but fumes and they didn’t know where it was coming from but I insisted they turn the boiler off just in case.”

A spokeswoman from Cadent confirmed the company visited the property but could not detect a gas escape or signs of carbon monoxide and advised Ms Ramsey to speak with the council or Environment Agency.

Ms Ramsey has now been living without hot water and heating for months, but the smell of gas remains in her flat.

She said: “I have to go to the sporting centre to shower and boil the kettle for hot water.”

Ms Ramsey said her complaints to the council have been ignored.

She said: “A woman from the council came round when I first complained in 2020, but she said she couldn’t smell anything.

“Since then it has got worse and now, when I call, I can’t get an answer.”

In December 2023, the council offered her a new flat, but Ms Ramsey said when she visited the property there was not a proper kitchen. 

She said: “I wouldn’t have anything if I lived there, so I would have to move again. 

“I’m 84 years old, I can’t move everything I own in and out of properties all the time.”

A spokesman from Lambeth council said: “We have carried out several tests, including by gas operatives, who were unable to smell or detect any gas leak. Gas inspections were also arranged for the flat below, as Mrs Ramsey had said she thought the problem might have stemmed from there.

“The boiler flue was redirected away from the kitchen window, radiators were inspected, and the property was checked for any other issues.

“We are committed to ensuring that Ms Ramsey feels safe within her home and we will continue to work with her to sort this issue. She is on the direct offer list awaiting a suitable property.”

Pictured top: Rachel Ramsey said she has been living with the smell of gas in her council flat for four years (Picture: Rachel Ramsey)