RESIDENTS are questioning Enfield Homes' "strong" gas safety record after one claimed blundering workmen left her with a broken cooker and another said she has a boiler which is so old it cannot be serviced.

Tenant Wendy Moy has accused the housing management body of being "more interested in meeting Government targets" than helping tenants after a her boiler was deemed to be a potential danger during a routine service in April, yet has still not been replaced.

She said: "The engineer who attended could not even remove the cover because the boiler is so old that should he break the seal he would not be able to get a replacement. He put a safety notice on the boiler which states that it is at risk."

Debbie Hodges, 39, who had a new kitchen bathroom and new boiler put in her two-bedroom flat between April and May, listed a catalogue of blunders by workmen, including leaving her with a cooker with a faulty gas supply after they had to rip out the kitchen units and tiles twice because they had put them in squint the first time.

The mother-of-two had no cooker for three days until she spent £300 on a new one.

She said: "We were quite willing to put up with things, we knew what it was going to be like. If I could have my house back as it was and no work done I would, I would never have them in. In fact I would box them up to Mars."

Ms Moy added: "From my point of view it is more important that basic maintenance is carried-out promptly, especially to gas appliances."

According to the Audit Commission's inspection report, gas servicing is an "area of strength for Enfield Homes". The report said: "All but one property have valid gas safety certificates. Good information is provided for tenants. Reassurance is given by effective quality control arrangements.

"Enfield Homes is effectively managing the safety of gas appliances. At the time of inspection, only one property did not have a current safety check and certificate and this certificate was less than a month overdue. Satisfaction is also high with 95 per cent of tenants satisfied with the service."

Enfield Homes said it is currently investigating the two cases and is in contact with the residents to resolve the matters concerned.