A Southmead council tenant claims his boiler has broken down repeatedly in the past 18 months and cannot understand why Bristol City Council has not replaced it.

Dean Draper says that despite the constant interruptions to his life, the council has failed to rectify the problem.

Mr Draper said that in the bitterly cold periods of last winter he missed work placements waiting for repairs to be done.

He is also fed up with having to stay at home waiting for engineers and with unwashed dishes piling up in his kitchen.

The 20-year-old had only been at his home in Royston Walk for a short time before the problems started.

He said: "I had been there two or three weeks when I tried to run a bath, but there was only cold water.

"I called the council and they fixed it, but it went again a few days later and it has gone on like that since.

"The council come out quickly to do it, but I can't understand why they don't just replace it. It must cost so much more to keep having to send out someone to fix it every time.

"It makes a mess of my day because I have to wait in all day for someone to come and it means I keep having to miss out on work experience I am doing.

"It is also starting to get cold again and I am starting to feel ill. I don't like having to boil the kettle to get hot water because that is costing me in electricity.

"One engineer said my boiler was 25 years old and I think the council has to replace boilers that are over 18 years old automatically, but it just promises to make a note on file."

A spokesman for Bristol City Council said: "There have been a number of call-outs to this address since 2005.

"The problem arising is to do with air locks in the system and is nothing to do with the boiler which was only fitted in 1995.

"This boiler is scheduled for possible replacement with a combi-type boiler in 2012, in line with recommended practice.

"We currently replace about 1,200-1,300 boilers a year, but these are done on a basis of priority and the programme is reviewed periodically.

"Normally, we would not replace a boiler of this type before 15 to 20 years of use unless there was a major fault or parts failure, which is not the case here. We will, however, be reviewing the maintenance contract to see if any additional action needs to be taken."