A former carer has been left washing out of a bowl and sleeping on her sofa for nine months due to a delay with accessible housing.

Jane Roberts says she has been forced to live in “degrading” conditions while waiting for suitable accommodation from Canterbury City Council (CCC).

The 59-year-old had a knee operation in February, and has since been left unable to use the bath in her Spring Lane property.

She told KentOnline’s sister channel KMTV she has been waiting for her expected move to a more accessible property ever since – despite being told on numerous occasions that it was imminent.

“I need to have a wet room as I cannot get into the bath after my knee operation as I can’t physically bend my leg,” she explained.

“All I need is a wet room but they told me they couldn’t put one in so had decided to move me – and I’ve been stuck since then.”

In the ensuing months, Ms Roberts has been forced to live on her sofa – being unable to sleep in her bed due to issues with noise coming from neighbours.

Every day, she is faced with the difficult task of washing herself in her living room with a bowl.

“My bedroom has been packed for nine months. My bed and all my clothes have gone mouldy – I can’t afford a new bed,” she said.

“To wash myself I have to go into the kitchen, fill my bowl up, bring it in here [the living room], pull the curtains across and have a strip wash. It is so degrading.

“I was given a bath seat after the operation but what use is that when I can’t even get into the bath?”

To make matters worse, an adverse blood reading taken during her operation has resulted in Ms Roberts – who also suffers from COPD – being delivered the difficult news that she has cancer in her stomach and has to have a catheter fitted.

“When I was having my knee operation they found cancer in my blood and told me I have to have a catheter put in,” she said.

“I had to have a number of ultrasounds and I’m now facing more operations down the line.”

The former cleaner says her treatment at the hands of the council has been “heartbreaking”, and made her wonder if others have been going through similar issues.

“I have always been in Band A [for housing priority] – and now they have put me in Band D, which is the lowest you can get,” she explained.

“I have got so many health problems, it’s getting me down living here, and all they keep saying to me – we will move you next week… for the last nine months.

“It can’t be just me – there must be other people going through the exact same thing.

“It is totally disgusting what they are doing. They have left me here knowing I’ve been stressed. It’s just not right, you can’t leave someone sleeping like this.

“I think they should have more feelings for what they’re putting people through.”

In response, a CCC spokesman said Ms Roberts’ case “is really complicated”.

“We’ve been doing our best to support our tenant while she has been in the process of making some important decisions about where she wants to live,” he said.

“Now she is more settled, we will work with occupational therapists to adapt her property to ensure it meets her ongoing needs.”