A disabled man and his children have been forced to wash using a bowl of hot water for 18 months because of the landlord’s failed attempts to fix a broken wet room, it is claimed.

Gary Spires, who lives in Douglas Avenue, Walthamstow, suffers from cerebral palsy which he says also causes incontinence problems.

As a result, he must wash numerous times each day, but he claims landlords Circle 33 have failed to fix the walk-in shower he and his family need.

Using the shower at the moment causes the bathroom and the landing, where the electronics for his stair lift are, to completely flood, he said.

“How can you leave a disabled person whose disability unfortunately gives them incontinence problems without a shower for almost two years?” the 42-year-old said.

“It’s upsetting me, it’s totally humiliating.

“I can’t do this any longer. I’m at my wit’s end. It’s embarrassing that I have to run bowls of hot water and strip down to wash.”

Mr Spires said he suspects the floorboards slope the wrong way, causing water to run out of the room.

“I’ve had to literally strip down and fill a bowl of water, two or three times a day, for almost two years,” he added.

“I’ve pretty much phoned Circle 33 every week about this and many times they’ve sent people out and they’re the wrong type of people even when they know what the problem is, sometimes it’s carpenter’s and sometime it’s surveyors.”

After first reporting the problem in late 2012, he said Circle 33 have attempted to fix the problem numerous times but always failed, causing ongoing problems for himself, his 17-year-old son and seven-year-old daughter.

David Richardson, regional director of property services for Circle 33 said: “We apologise for the inconvenience and discomfort caused by this unacceptable situation. We have raised the issue directly with our contractor, who is contacting Mr Spires to arrange to carry out the repair.”