Doncaster mum feared for babies' lives

A young mum was left with no heating for two days '“ even though a cold could be fatal for her two young daughters.
Scarlett Pryor pictured with twin daughters Lara and Leia Pryor-Marshall, at her home in Kirk Sandall. Picture: Marie Caley NDFP Pryor MC 2Scarlett Pryor pictured with twin daughters Lara and Leia Pryor-Marshall, at her home in Kirk Sandall. Picture: Marie Caley NDFP Pryor MC 2
Scarlett Pryor pictured with twin daughters Lara and Leia Pryor-Marshall, at her home in Kirk Sandall. Picture: Marie Caley NDFP Pryor MC 2

Scarlett Pryor, aged 28, of Eccleston Road, Kirk Sandall, reported the issues to Robson Estates, who own the rented property, on March 9.

But the mum-of-two said it took two days for the problems to be fixed – leaving herself and her twin daughters freezing.

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“It’s been horrible, absolutely horrible. I’ve been at breaking point. The kids haven’t been sleeping, I haven’t been sleeping.

“There is one small heater in the lounge so we have all been sleeping in there, but it doesn’t give out much heat. I haven’t been able to bath them or wash myself.”

Scarlett’s daughters Lara and Leia Pryor-Marshall, who are now one, were born prematurely last year – leaving them with various health problems, including undeveloped lungs.

“They are poorly now because of this, and so am I. I’m just so lucky that it’s not worse. Because of their lungs, if they get a cold it can cause them to be put on life support. Even a cold can be life threatening.

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“I feel let down by Robson Estates. My health and my children’s health isn’t a priority to them.”

Scarlett added that plaster was also falling off the walls in the house and stones were coming up through her kitchen floor, leaving her worried that her daughters would be injured. She said although she has reported the problems repeatedly nothing has been done.

Karen Mirfakhrai, letting manager at Robson Estates, said: “We had a report from the tenant on the March 9 at 4.55pm that her boiler was not working. We sent an engineer to check the problem.

“A part was ordered, we then sent out a second engineer on the March 11 who fitted the new part and left the property with the boiler in working order. There are other forms of electric heating in the property, and I believe there is a electric shower in the bathroom to provide hot water.

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“On no occasion did the tenant ask for extra forms of heating as this would have been available on request.

“The kitchen is fitted with a lino covering. The flooring underneath is cement based which, in places, is crumbling. This is not dangerous, it just shows through the lino. This will be replaced with laminate flooring.

“The plaster coming away from the wall is a damp issue. A damp course has been injected into the wall and the plasterer will re-plaster the wall on April 8.”