Lucas Honey, a tenant at C~URB Lettings’ Granton Harbour property, has been unable to independently exit his home since December 2024 due to the letting agency’s failure to ensure the door was accessible for its tenants. 

Honey first raised concerns over the doorway, which was too heavy and difficult for him to operate alone, more than four years ago. C~URB has failed to rectify the situation, despite attending meetings with Honey and tenants to address the concerns. 

The issue got worse for Honey in early December as new mag-locks were installed on the main door to the building, meaning the doorway was too narrow to fit his wheelchair through.

After complaints, C~URB Lettings removed the newly fitted mag-locks in February, but Honey says that they have not addressed the unsuitability of the door itself. 

Lucas had major surgery in February, which he notified C~URB lettings of, telling them that he would be unable to operate the heavy main door independently and so would continue to be trapped in his home, even after the mag-locks were removed. 

On 1 April, Lucas attended a meeting on site with several members of C~URB, including the inclusion design team, and a building contractor, to discuss this matter. Honey says that they agreed there had been an oversight and made suggestions to fix the issue; however, at a subsequent meeting on 29 April, C~URB said that there is no timeline for the doors to be fixed and nothing can be done in the meantime to address the situation.

As of May 2025, the letting agency has failed to meet many basic demands such as ramps for accessibility. 

In response to complaints about the doorway C~URB Lettings have responded to Honey that they “bought the building already designed”.  They have admitted in a meeting with tenants that they incorrectly advertised these properties as fully accessible.

Lucas has been advised by C~URB Lettings that in the event of a fire in his home or building, he is to wait in his home to be rescued as he is unable to escape via the front door or via the patio doors, which access the street via a set of stairs.

In November last year, Honey and 31 of his neighbours came together to campaign for Honey’s right to come and go from his ground floor apartment unaided, or even enter his own private patio, currently inaccessible to him.

The multi-story complex houses 155 flats across six tower blocks, all advertised as accessible and affordable housing.

Lucas Honey, affected tenant and member of Living Rent, said: “I have always thought the doors were difficult to use, and have not known why they are so heavy and not accessible when there’s purpose-built accessible flats in the building. I had brought the doors to the housing association’s attention in the past, but was brushed off and told that there’s nothing they can do. This has been the exact same thing they have said every time we’ve brought a problem to their attention. They say that they ‘bought the building already designed’,  so it’s not their fault.

“But when I got a brand new wheelchair last year, I suddenly realised just how inaccessible the building really was. I suddenly had to lean much further out of my chair to open the heavy doors, and I could not fit through them. If someone holds the door all the way open I can very slowly navigate through the gap, with only an inch to spare. This is of course very tricky to do.

“I approached C~URB again in early December 2024, explaining that I couldn’t independently get out of the building. I told them I was having major surgery in February and my mobility would be restricted further, so it was really very urgent. They said it would be addressed by then. Then I was told it was too close to Christmas break to fix anything until the new year, so they would be having a meeting on site on January 8th to make a plan. I was not aware if this meeting went ahead because I heard nothing. 

“In February, I went for surgery as planned, but two weeks later I was rushed back into hospital with Sepsis, and had further emergency surgery. I am still recovering, and I am having nurses in daily to pack and dress wounds. Understandably, I was unable to chase C~URB about the doors. At the beginning of March, I contacted C~URB yet again, and asked my tenants’ union, Living Rent, to help me push this matter, as being very sick still, I have very limited capacity.

“Being trapped inside for months does not bode well for recovery, and severely impacts my mental health. I can only get out of the building during care hours when I have someone to help me through the doors, and I am only entitled to 12 hours care a week.

“As a disabled person, I’m quite used to having inadequate housing, and having no option of moving if I’m unhappy. It took me years to get into a place this accessible, and I’m still waiting on my kitchen being adapted so I can cook and do my own dishes.

“Being trapped in my own building isn’t just severely impacting my mental health, but it is a complete lack of accessibility, as well as a serious health and safety issue. I have never been informed of any evacuation plan. When someone from my tenants’ union asked, they were told I should just go out of my patio door, onto my (inaccessible) patio, and await rescue.”

Izzi Brannen, Living Rent Edinburgh member defence organiser, said: “C~URB Letting’s avoidance of this problem is astonishing, it’s clear that they don’t view Lucas’ independence and return to normality as important.

“This is something that Lucas raised before Christmas 2024 and to be still stuck inside six months later is horrific. Every day longer this takes, is one day more Lucas is trapped in his home.

Not only did C~URB Lettings fail to accurately assess the accessibility of their properties, but their continued avoidance of finding any workable solution is a symptom of the wider neglect of tenants’ rights and dignity we see across Scotland.”

A C~urb spokesperson told SHN that it is committed to resolving the situation “as swiftly as possible”.

“Resolving this matter for our tenant remains a priority, and we are fully committed to delivering compliant adaptations as swiftly as possible, including necessary statutory consent,” the spokesperson said.

“We are also committed to maintaining ongoing open dialogue with the tenant to ensure all access issues are managed safely.

“All tenants at this property have been issued with the current fire safety protocols relevant to high-rise buildings, in accordance with advice from the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, which outlines ‘stay put’ procedures.”