People in a Homerton housing block are having to layer-up after being left with cold water and no heating for two months while temperatures plummet to two degrees.

Nine Exbury House flats had their gas cut off on September 12 because a pipe needed replacing – and it could be out for another three weeks.

Both the gas network Cadent and Hackney council say residents shouldn’t be affected but David Taylor, 75, who leases his flat from the council, has been left having to heat his meals upstairs at a neighbour’s flat after having no gas stove or hot water.

Gas network Cadent provided him with two small electric fans to heat his entire flat and a couple of hot plates.

He said: “I don’t know why it’s taking so long. With the winter getting close now, something should be done.”

Neighbour Carl Stratton, 35, who owns his property, is left with having a cold shower everyday unless he travels three miles to wash at work.

David’s neighbour, Angel Willie, 53, is similarly affected, and said the lack of communication is frustrating.

“Hackney council didn’t even know anything was going on with our gas.”

She described the hot plates as “useless” and she is barely able to reach the one Cadent provided her.

She said: “There are always people on site but they don’t tell us anything. We are just in limbo. We are just standing still and we don’t know what to do.”

A spokesperson for Cadent said: “The work to replace the gas pipe was delayed after asbestos was discovered in the ground

“In the meantime people do have communal heating for cooking and heating facilities.

“The compensation will be given once the work has been completed.”

A spokesperson for Hackney Council said: “We are working as quickly as possible to restore gas supply to residents.

“The building has a communal heating source so all residents have access to hot water and heating as this is not linked to the gas supply.”

Cadent said it would offer residents compensation up to £,1000. The spokesperson added that the company had received no complaints and said the gas should be restored by November 21.