Landlord GreenSquareAccord has come under fire that recent events are the latest in a long history of issues.

Until March 28 John Watson House (JWH) residents were unable to leave their flats for three weeks due to a broken lift not being repaired.

The fault came amid a context of complaints that stretch back more than a decade, with people saying they feel abandoned.

“There's a lot of people that just think GreenSquare is a way to space”, said Kay Irvine, who acts as a spokesperson for residents in Royal Wootton Bassett.

Another resident, Ann Cuss, 76, said: “They don't care about the old people.”

Since residents moved in, social care services have been withdrawn as the accommodation changed from assisted living to independent living. 

This is despite the needs of the residents not changing, they say.

Residents are mostly elderly with age-related health issues. When many residents moved in, a social care provider organised group activities and carried out personal visits.

Since then, this social care service has been withdrawn, with GreenSquareAccord saying they are only responsible for the building, and not the people who live in it.

Kay said: “There's nobody here for weeks on end. They say, ‘you only rent the flats from us now’. 

"But the needs of the people haven't changed. They still need more support, but you've just taken it away and have the same service charges.”

They claim house managers do not check up on residents and are only present one day a week.

She added: “We're confused because we think that the landlords got a duty of care to their residents and they say they haven't.

“If people feel like the landlord doesn't have any duty of care towards them, then they don't really understand what the service charge is all about.”

GreenSquareAccord has said these changes were made more than a decade ago, but those living in JWH still feel their effects.

The Adver met with residents who lived through the change in designation and brought up the issue as a current problem.

Residents feel they do not have a clear point of contact to voice concerns, and when the lift broke on March 6, residents struggled to get clear answers on when it would be fixed.

They say were given two repair dates, with both passing before it was eventually fixed on March 28 three weeks after it broke.

Another resident, Christine, 84, cut her leg while trying to use the stairs to see her sister on the first floor.

Although she can now use the lift again, her injuries have not healed.

Kay has since been able to organise fish and chip evenings and coffee mornings for the residents with the lift repaired, which were well attended.

She said: “The residents need the opportunity to get together and have a chat about things and get things off their chest. That's the main thing, I think. It helps.”

A GreenSquareAccord spokesperson said: “The change of designation at John Watson House from assisted to independent living occurred more than a decade ago, the decision was taken following government cuts to ‘The Supporting People’ funding programme in 2009. 

“Changes to the designation of properties at this point were taken at a local authority level.

“We provide a landlord service to the customers living at John Watson House, including safety and compliance checks, repairs and maintenance of the communal areas and facilities. 

“If customers are identified as having additional needs, our housing teams will explore appropriate support interventions or work alongside the customer to seek alternative accommodation tailored to them.”

Wiltshire Council did not respond to a request for comment.