Residents of the Olympic site’s Stratford Halo tower block today labelled its facilities a “Third World joke”, saying they have had no hot water for nearly two weeks.
Assistant City trader Alex Eales, 25, said he pays £1,100 a month for his one-bedroom apartment but has to shower at his gym.
He complained to Genesis Housing Association, which manages the 43-storey tower, but claimed he was told that as he wasn’t a pensioner or a new parent, he wasn’t a high priority.
The tower is tapped into the award-winning Olympic District Heating and Cooling System, put in place to service 2012 Games venues with the aim of supplying later local developments.
Trumpeted as low-carbon, the system keeps bills below the average faced by households with more “traditional” heating, according to Genesis.
But Mr Eales said: “It’s a joke. Our flat has been affected since early December. It is not on to have to face Third World living standards here.”
He lives with girlfriend Naomi Brazell, 22, a City administrative assistant, who said: “I had a really important appointment and I couldn’t shower as the water was ice-cold. I went to a friend’s house.” They reported the problems, which included low water pressure in cold taps, on December 7.
Stratford Halo, due for completion next year, is billed as “high-end” housing with “top-quality services”. The development incorporates a waterway, wetland planting and roof gardens.
But Huri Mokhtarian, 27, who lives on the ninth floor with her boyfriend, said: “We have had guests recently and we will over Christmas and it feels stupid showing them the wonderful building but then having to explain that washing yourself or the dishes is an issue.
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“They are selling this place like you are living in a paradise but it’s missing an essential. It’s all we talk about in the lifts when I meet neighbours.” She said engineers visited three times, to no avail. “The management team are really nice, and they always apologise, but things aren’t getting better.”
A resident who bought a £350,000 three-bedroom flat and moved in last week, said: “When I arrived there was no hot water, the toilet wasn’t working and the shower head was leaking.”
Student Yigit Zarbun, 19, who lives on the second floor, said: “I have had problems since August. I am moving out next week.”
A spokesman for Genesis said: “We have been keeping, and will continue to keep, our residents informed of developments. It is our priority to work with our contractors to ensure a speedy resolution to this matter.”
