Joseph Sleuys at his home on the Weedington Estate

A PENSIONER with chronic heart disease is hand-washing his clothes in the bath after the council said it won’t be fixing his plumbing problems, writes Frankie Lister-Fell.

Joseph Sleuys – a former musician – lives in the Weedington Estate in Gospel Oak.

He called the council last week who told him on the phone “it’s your responsibility and we’re not coming to fix it”.

He said his sink started leaking into the cupboard below after the council replaced his bathroom and kitchen. Plumbers have been sent “three times” to fix it but the sink and washing machine next to it keep leaking.

“It’s got worse and worse again,” Mr Sleuys, 74, told the New Journal last week.

“I’m 74 with chronic heart disease and they still won’t fix it. They’re not interested at all. I can’t afford to fix it. I live on a state pension with pension credits. This is their property and they’re leaving a vulnerable person unable to use their kitchen. They don’t care, they just don’t care.”

He said he has been cleaning his dishes in a bowl and then pouring it down the sink.

And he has been hand-washing his clothes in the bath, which has been difficult due to the trapped nerve in his right hand.

Mr Sleuys trained at the Guildhall School for Music and played brass in bands Live Wire and with Roy Wood in the 1970s.

He later worked at the American School in its transport office and retired after he had a heart attack.

He added: “The manager said we’re not doing that job, it’s the tenant’s responsibility. I asked again and again and he gave me the number of some other organisation which could help me but the number wasn’t recognised. I went back again and all I got was a voicemail.

“Three weeks ago this was a repair they’re willing to do but now they’re not and no reason given.”

A Camden Council spokesperson said: “We apologise for the issues Mr Sluys has been experiencing in his home. We attended the property on Tuesday June 24 and found a blockage in the sink waste pipe, which has now been cleared and the plumbing is working as normal.”