A MAN was told by his social housing supplier that he would have to wait 14 years to have a shower installed.

Richard Kyte, who lives in Crickley Drive, Warndon, says he is currently forced to take baths - wasting money and water compared to a shower.

Despite this, Platform Housing told him he cannot have a shower installed until 2036.

Since being contacted by the Worcester News - Platform has contacted Mr Kyte and agreed to install a shower for him.

Mr Kyte, who is over six foot tall, said he wanted Platform to explain the delay and why it is such a lengthy process.

The 43-year-old said he was not being ungrateful but it was difficult for him to use the bath due to his height and he worries about slipping and injuring himself.

He said: "I've been living here for 14 months and only have a little bath in here.

"I'm 6ft 3 so a shower is way more suitable, but Platform say I can't have one until 2036.

"By then I'll be 60 years old! I just don't get it.

"Fourteen years is just mad and I've been fobbed off by everyone I've gone to for help on this.

"We're being asked to save water and save energy, so surely a shower is better than a bath for that?"

As a tenant, Mr Kyte pays his own water and energy bills, with energy regulator Ofwat saying more should be done to save water with utility bills set to skyrocket this winter.

One of their recommendations is to take showers instead of baths - with a standard five minute shower using about 40 litres of water.

It is roughly half the volume of a standard bath.

Responding to Mr Kyte, Platform chief operations officer Marion Duffy confirmed the organisation had been in contact with the tenant.

She said: "Before Mr Kyte moved in in July 2021 we surveyed the bathroom and it was deemed satisfactory.

"However we understand Mr Kyte's need for a shower, have been in touch with him and have agreed to fitting a new shower."

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