Pensioner spends all day in a sleeping bag and says it’s colder in his home than outside

A hard-up pensioner says he spends all day wrapped in a sleeping bag and wears several layers of clothing after a leak in his loft left his home freezing.

David Harding reckons it is colder inside his bungalow in Swansea, south Wales, than outside – and he can hardly afford to heat his house.

The former merchant navy officer fears for his health, after a leak led to his loft insulation being ripped out this winter.

The record-breaking low temperature has made him more and more concerned, and he said he’s really struggling to stay warm, WalesOnline report.

Things went from bad to worse for the 81-year-old after a new kitchen was fitted in his two-bedroom home last month.

He noticed a leak coming through the ceiling – which saw water drip down into his cupboards as well as into his ceiling light.

“It was running from my lights like a tap,” he said, adding that he filled up two buckets of the dripping water.

Swansea Council has said it is working as quickly as possible to address the issue and has recently inspected the home a number of times.

However, in less than two weeks, David said he called the council seven times and had seven roofers inspect the property which led to his insulation being removed so the issue could be identified.

David, who has diabetes and has had prostate cancer in the past, said: “I’ve got three pairs of long johns on, three vests on, two jerseys, two trousers and I’m still cowin’ cold. I’m afraid I’m going to die of cold. I’m healthy, I look after myself but it’s getting harder now it’s getting cold.”

Swansea Council said it identified a build-up of condensation in David’s loft which is leaking into the kitchen below.

A spokesman said that roof vents have been installed by the council today and insulation was removed to identify the source of the problem.

They added that new loft insulation is being installed this week and they are “confident” this will allow David to keep the home warm.

However, that can’t come soon enough for the retired merchant navy officer and security guard – who said there are puddles of water in his attic getting bigger as he waits for the problem to be sorted. He also added that he cannot afford to keep the heating on for too long to warm up the house despite the cold weather.

“It is freezing in this bl**dy bungalow. I can’t put the heating on because if I do for half an hour, it will warm up but as soon as I switch the heating off it goes freezing.

“I can’t keep the heating on 24/7, it’s impossible because I’m a pensioner,” he said, adding that electric heaters were also out of his price range due to the high cost of running them.

Swansea Council added it recognised that issues linked to the cost of living and the high costs of energy are causing distress for many.

“The council said it will be providing support and advice to the tenant in relation to these issues.