A disabled gran forced out of her flat by a fire has spent two years in a Travelodge and said she would "rather be in prison".
Karen Bishop, 51, had to leave her two-bedroom home in April, 2022, after a blaze on the floor above spread. She decided to move in with her daughter Sarah Ward, 32, but, not wanting to be a "burden" she left after a few months to stay in a Travelodge. Karen has been living off takeaways and meal deals as she only has a kettle to cook with and moving between hotels.
She has spent two Christmas ' in the hotel and fears she will spend another one there as work on her flat is yet to start. Karen, from Norwich, said: "I feel like nobody is listening to me. They haven't even started looking at any of the repairs. I am looking at another Christmas in here, it is not fair. It is horrible, it is not the hotel's fault but these buildings are not made to be lived in.
"I would rather be in prison. At least I would get three meals a day and I wouldn't have to move every three weeks. I have no life, everything is about this room. I have nowhere I can enjoy the sun and I have no grass to go out on."
Karen says she has stickler syndrome, a genetic disorder that can cause serious vision, hearing and joint problems, and fibromyalgia, which causes pain and extreme tiredness. She admits her housing association, Orbit Housing, has tried to find her a temporary home while her flat is repaired.
But she says the options presented aren't set up for her disabilities - so she's been living in hotels instead. Karen said: "I am in a wheelchair, they will not offer me a bungalow. I really need to be on the ground floor as I have bad legs. Orbit has told me they wouldn't consider me for a bungalow but won't say why.
"My health won't ever improve - it's always in decline - so it won't ever go away and getting up or down stairs is difficult. My needs aren't being taken into consideration at all." Karen said she has no life since being stuck in the hotel and her dad, Jeremy Sulter, 76, and her friend have passed away whilst she's been there.
She said she has supportive family members but she does not want to be a burden to them. Karen said: "They haven't even started working on my property yet and I am looking at six months minimum for that. Luckily, I do have my family. I will do anything I can not to be here but it is not a lot of fun.
"I am having to move rooms every two to three weeks, my friend comes to help me but sometimes I have had to move by myself. Since being here all I have been eating is takeaways and salads from the shop. This is no way to live."
A spokesperson for Orbit Housing, the housing association, said: "We're very sorry that the repair work following the fire is taking longer than expected and we're very grateful to Ms Bishop for her continued patience and understanding. We are focussed on ensuring that the extensive repairs that are required to Ms Bishop's home are completed as soon as possible.
"In the meantime, we remain in regular contact with Ms Bishop regarding accommodation options and continue to provide her with alternative accessible accommodation as well as other wellbeing support including financial assistance with the cost of meals."
A spokesperson for Travelodge said: "Travelodge's focus is on ensuring all of its customers have a high quality experience across its hotels and recognise that a hotel room is not a substitute for a home."