A housing provider accidentally spent thousands of pounds unnecessarily replacing kitchens because of a ‘computer error’, it has emerged.

Ascham Homes, which manages council properties on behalf of Waltham Forest council, began ripping out kitchens in Upshire House, Walthamstow, earlier this year because they were showing on their system as due for replacement.

However, it transpired the work was not due for three years.

Each kitchen is estimated to have cost around £4,000, although Ascham Homes has refused to reveal the exact total cost.

The mistake caused anger among residents in the block, with claims of badly damaged kitchens.

Resident David Ocuneff says he is aware of eight kitchens had been replaced prematurely.

And he said his kitchen, which requires urgent repairs due to a leak, has not been fixed properly.

Mr Ocuneff said: ““It took 16 days in total for them to finish the kitchen and it still hasn’t been done properly.

“Parts of it have been replaced three times.”

Despite spending thousands on repairing Mr Ocuneff’s kitchen, it will be due for replacement in around 18 months.

Neighbours have signed statements confirming their kitchens did not need to be replaced.

A spokesman for Ascham Homes admitted there had been an error due to the wrong data being provided, but refused to reveal how much had been wrongly spent.

He said Mr Ocuneff’s kitchen was now of an acceptable standard.

For more on this story, see this week's Guardian - out Thursday