Peabody lift failures leave Barnet pensioner missing hospital appointments

A 79-year-old Barnet resident has missed hospital appointments after the lift in her Lillington Gardens block broke down repeatedly, leaving her and her husband stranded on the fourth floor. Diane Gordon, who uses a wheelchair, said the longest outage lasted about eight days.

The couple’s landlord, Peabody, has put them up in a hotel when the lift failed as they returned home. Their daughter, Jessica, said the situation has left them isolated, unable to go for walks or visit friends.

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Lift failures disrupt daily life and medical care

Gordon, a former teaching assistant, said she has been told daily walks are essential to maintain her strength. The lift breaks down several times a month, often for days at a time, making it impossible to leave the flat reliably.

Her husband, 81, used to walk to a local shop each morning for a newspaper. That routine ended when the lift became unreliable. The couple now rely on family visits to avoid complete isolation.

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You don’t know when you can be given another appointment. It’s quite worrying.

Diane Gordon, resident

Jessica Gordon said her parents’ independence has been lost. She described one incident when she took her mother out for the day, only to find the lift broken on their return. She had to wheel her mother to a Peabody meeting to demand help.

Peabody apologises and considers rehousing

A Peabody spokesperson told MyLondon the landlord is sorry for the problems. The neighbourhood team has been checking on residents and is working with the couple on their request to move to a ground-floor flat.

The spokesperson said the lift has now been repaired and is being monitored. However, the couple’s son-in-law, Richard, who works in maintenance, said he called the lift’s auto-dialler and was told the company had not serviced it in six months.

What happens next

Peabody has not confirmed whether it will rehouse the couple. The landlord said it will continue to support them while the lift is monitored. Residents can report further breakdowns to Peabody’s neighbourhood team.