RESIDENTS of a four-flat apartment building in Basingstoke are fuming after their housing association allegedly informed them it would take more than two months to replace a faulty light in the communal area.

The occupiers of the flats in Malta Close, Popley, first complained to housing association Vivid about the broken light on Wednesday, February 21.

According to Neil Mason, a 67-year-old resident recovering from hip replacement surgery, his initial complaint was registered as a 24-hour emergency repair.

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However, after five weeks with no action, Mr Mason contacted Vivid again on Tuesday, March 26, only to be told the replacement wouldn't happen until May 8 – more than two months after the first complaint.

“I’m a person who is recovering from a hip replacement surgery,” Mr Mason said.

“I live on the first floor. It is so dangerous to take the stairs in the night as it is pitch black. I come back from work in the night and I have to use a torch to get to my home.

"There is also an older gentleman living on the ground floor who is struggling because of no light in the communal area.”

Basingstoke Gazette: The communal area of the apartmentThe communal area of the apartment (Image: Newsquest)

Mr Mason also said the darkness raises security concerns due to potential anti-social behavior in the neighborhood.

The residents require a fob to enter the communal area, but he said the door is not secure from 7am to 5pm.

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"I know that there are drug dealers around here, who try to force open doors and try to steal items when they are in need of money. With no lights in the night, it is going to be a security concern."

Mr Mason also said he thought about getting the lights fixed privately, but he decided not to as he is not allowed to do that. 

After the Gazette contacted Vivid, it will fix the light with immediate effect.

Mark Churcher, head of repairs and compliance at Vivid, said: "We have a member of our repairs team visiting the block at Malta Close today (Wednesday, March 27), where they will rectify the lighting with immediate effect.

"Ensuring the communal spaces of our homes have adequate lighting, for safety and accessibility is important to us and once notified will put a plan in place as quickly as we can."