Tower block battered by Storm Goretti as debris falls from roof onto cars below

He said: “The roof that covers the lift motoring control room at Park House blew off during Storm Goretti, resulting in debris that affected two parked cars.

“Unfortunately, rainwater ingress subsequently impacted the lift system, which is currently out of service. 

“We understand this presents challenges for residents with mobility needs, and members of our Housing & Communities team are supporting those residents to ensure they receive the help they need.”

Mr Balu said the Ocean Housing team responded immediately on the night of the storm to check on residents. The tower block has 65 flats in total, of which 43 are rented, 20 are owned by leaseholders and two are for sale.

He added: “We cleared and made safe the affected external areas as soon as conditions allowed on Friday 9 January. 

“Specialist contractors are on site today [12 January] carrying out the necessary assessments to begin repairs. 

“Throughout this process, the safety and well-being of our tenants remain our highest priority. We are in regular contact with residents and will continue to provide updates and tailored support to those affected.”

At the end of last week, several other landlords notified tenants that their services had been affected by Storm Goretti. 

In the South West, which was impacted by very strong winds, social landlord LiveWest made welfare calls to check in on tenants and ensure their safety.

Liane Manley, LiveWest’s director of property services, said: “The severe weather has caused widespread disruption, including travel challenges, utility outages and property damage. We know this is a worrying time, and we are here to support our customers.

“To ensure we can focus on those most affected and keep everyone safe, we are currently prioritising repairs.

“We are in contact with residents in the impacted areas with updates and details of other agencies who can provide additional support. Our teams are also making welfare calls to check in on customers and ensure they are safe and well.”

Ms Manley also said the housing association has “already begun assessing the damage caused by the storm” and will deploy resources as quickly as possible to address urgent issues and restore normal service.

In the Midlands, one of the areas most acutely affected by heavy snowfall, EMH warned tenants that some repairs appointments may need to be rescheduled and that two of its offices had closed on Friday 9 January.

The East Midlands-based landlord said in a post on its website: “Due to the weather, some of our operatives may experience difficulties travelling safely to appointments today. 

“We will do everything we can to honour appointments already scheduled; however, some visits may take place later than planned or may need to be rescheduled at short notice. If we’re unable to attend, we will contact you directly to rearrange your appointment.

“Please also be aware that our Memorial House [in Coalville] and Longfield offices [in Ilkeston] are closed today due to the snow.”

EMH told Inside Housing that the impact of the storm has been mixed across the East Midlands region, and that it had taken this action as a precautionary measure in the interests of keeping residents and colleagues safe. So far, no major issues have been reported to the landlord.

Large housing association Sanctuary also said its services have been affected by Storm Goretti and poor weather across the UK.

A notice on the 125,000-home landlord’s website advised tenants to only phone its customer hub for emergencies so that “those most in need” of help can get through more quickly.

“Our contractors are attending emergency repairs where it is safe to do so. Some pre-booked, non-emergency repairs may not go ahead as planned,” Sanctuary added.

Platform Housing Group told Inside Housing that no major issues have been reported but that the weather conditions have caused an increase in customer calls.

Marion Duffy, chief operations officer, said: “Although our hub has been busier than usual due to the weather, we have had no major issues reported due to Storm Goretti. We are however continuing to monitor the situation and will respond to any call-outs and support needed by our customers.”