Residents at a four-storey block of flats have shared their frustration after revealing they have had no access to a lift for weeks.

Harvest Court, in Rainham's Orchard Village, has reportedly had an issue with its lift since mid-February following a leak in its shaft.

Clarion Housing, the housing association managing the property, said it had been "a complex case" and apologised to residents.

A spokesperson said they are trying to get the lift working but admitted: "It has taken far longer to resolve than we would hope and expect."

Residents told the Recorder that they have been left to fend for themselves without the lift.

34-year-old Michelle Stevens, who is eight months pregnant, said: “Everytime I climb up the stairs I literally feel like I am going to collapse." 

Michelle has had to depend on her friends to bring her groceries and other necessities for days, she added.

“I have got high chances of going into early labour and I am going to have a C-section, so how will I go up the stairs when I have a C-section?”

Read More: Residents at Orchard Village block without heating and running water after leak

Another resident, Natasha Smith, 27, was in her last month of pregnancy when the lift first broke.

She is now back from the hospital with the lift still not operational.

She also went into an early labour and her son has been in intensive care since then. Natasha said her eight-year-old daughter has autism and cannot climb the stairs too.

Natasha told the Recorder: “I had to go up and down in my condition to take my daughter to school."

She believes it may have been this exertion that caused her to go into early labour.

The residents have repeatedly reached out to Clarion, they claimed, but have not had clear answers. Some escalated it to their local councillors.

Labour councillor for Beam Park ward, Matthew Stanton, told the Recorder: “While Clarion indicates that it allows 28 days for non-emergency repairs, its definition of an emergency is left deliberately vague."

He also questioned the efficiency of the housing association in dealing with resident complaints.

Cllr Stanton said: "I have repeatedly argued the case that repairs to the infrastructure of the estate, such as the doors, lifts, and car park gates, are not being treated seriously."

Clarion was contacted for comment by the Recorder and a spokesperson said: "We are sorry for the situation at Harvest Court and apologise to all residents who have been affected by the lift being out of operation. This has been a complex case and it has taken far longer to resolve than we would hope and expect.

“We have written to all of the affected residents advising them to contact us directly if they need any support during this time.

"Our team is working hard to get the lift working again and we will continue to keep residents and the local council updated."

Orchard Village has repeatedly hit the headlines for a number of housing issues in the past.

Last April, Merlin Court tenants were evacuated after a burst pipe flooded the block while in February 2022 Barley Court residents called on Clarion to replace "sodden" walls in a communal bin room.