I have a granddaughter living in Harmsworth Crescent, Hove. She is on her own with two little girls and, at the moment, is suffering with depression on account of the state of her small housing association bungalow.

She has endured almost the entire winter with hardly any heating, owing to the fact the electric heating keeps breaking down. After complaining about this, an electrician attended on two or three occasions and was supposed to have remedied the fault. But after a few days, it packed up again.

The answer is a new heater - but try telling this to the housing association.

For months now, there has been a leak in the boiler which has soaked and ruined the carpet.

A plumber called to sort this out said it needed a part which he hadn't got.

The only advice he offered was: "If it keeps leaking, wrap a towel around it."

What kind of plumber is that?

I suspect there are leaks in the roof as part of the ceiling in the living room is damp and going black.

Likewise, the kitchen ceiling is black in places.

This is not a fit place for anyone to live. She has asked many times for a change but to no avail.

-Jack Todd, Ingram Crescent East, Hove