A disabled woman from Somerset, known only as Charlotte, has faced harrowing living conditions for over a year after becoming unable to use the bathroom in her own home. Suffering from fibromyalgia, a chronic and painful condition, Charlotte has not been able to use her upstairs bathroom for years. As her condition worsened, she became completely unable to access the only bathroom in the house, forcing her to resort to relieving herself in a jug.
For the past year, Charlotte has managed personal hygiene through wet wipes and washing in the sink. She has not taken a hot shower in over 12 months. Speaking about her plight, Charlotte expressed disbelief that such conditions could exist today, saying, “I piddle and poo in a jug. You wouldn’t think people live like this in this day and age.”
Charlotte, who also experiences incontinence, requested that her housing association, Abri, relocate her to a more suitable home. However, she was told a move wasn’t possible because her ex-partner remains on the lease, despite no longer living at the property. “They said I could be making him homeless even though he hasn’t been living here for years,” she explained.
Instead of relocating her, Abri reportedly arranged for social services to install a commode in Charlotte’s kitchen. When she asked to use an empty property temporarily for showering, her request was denied. Her appeal for a rent reduction, reflecting her inability to use the bathroom, was also refused. Charlotte intended to use any potential savings to buy a gym membership where she could shower.
She was advised to travel several miles to a local homeless shelter to access bathing facilities, but upon arrival, she was turned away because she was not officially homeless. Charlotte confronted an Abri housing officer, asking, “What am I supposed to do, just p*** myself?” The officer allegedly responded, “yes.”
The impact on Charlotte’s health has been severe. She has suffered multiple urinary tract infections due to inadequate hygiene and is battling depression as a result of her living situation.
On March 31, Abri agreed to remove her ex-partner from the lease and permitted her to pursue a mutual exchange of homes—a development Charlotte described as “a light at the end of the tunnel.” Nevertheless, she remains concerned about why the process has dragged on for more than a year and whether the house swap will become a reality soon. Meanwhile, she continues to live in unsuitable conditions.
In response, Jim Bruckel, Abri’s Regional Assistant Director for the South West, said: “The safety and wellbeing of our customers is our highest priority. When life changes, we’re committed to providing, or signposting to, the support available to meet our customers’ needs. We’re fully supportive of [Charlotte’s] decision to move to a more suitable home and have worked with her to apply through the Local Authority’s Somerset Homefinder and HomeSwapper. We’ve also provided support with tenancy changes to enable a move to happen more quickly. Whilst the process of finding a new home is taking place, [Charlotte] has been supported by an Occupational Therapist from the Local Authority to consider interim aids and adaptations in her current home. We’ll continue to work with [Charlotte] in seeking a home that better meets her needs and will support her in her current home whilst the search continues.”