After a long day, most of us look forward to the comfort of home. But for one resident, that expectation was met with an unexpected and frustrating obstacle.
What happened next has drawn attention to a broader issue affecting thousands of Australians—especially those with disabilities.
A lift breaks down—and so does access to home
Melbourne resident Shane Hryhorec, who uses a wheelchair, arrived home at 9:30pm only to find that the building’s sole lift was out of order.
There were no warning signs, no communication—and no way for him to reach his apartment.
‘I saw in our residential group that the lift had broken down. I called the lift company and let them know I use a wheelchair and needed access to the building,’ Shane said.
‘They said it had already been logged and someone was on their way.’
But hours passed with no update and no repair in sight.
With no alternative, Shane booked a hotel for the night at a cost of $230.
He spent the next day in the same clothes and was forced to throw out $60 worth of groceries that he couldn’t store in his fridge.
‘Dairy and meat products had to go in the bin,’ he said.
Trapped again—this time inside his apartment
Eventually, after more calls and delays, Shane was let into his unit.
But as further repairs were needed, he found himself stuck once more—this time inside the building.
‘They let me in, but then continued working on it. That meant I couldn’t leave again until it was fixed,’ he explained.
Shane, who is a member of his building’s strata committee, said this was not the first time the lift had failed during his seven-year residency.
But it was the first time he had been forced to spend money on a hotel—and there is still no compensation in sight.
‘What compensation is there for people with disabilities who get trapped in the lift but also can’t access their homes and have to book accommodation? None,’ he said.
‘That’s what happened to me and I’m still out of pocket.’
What the lift company says
The company responsible for the lift, Schindler, said it ‘continuously works to minimise elevator outages’.
Callum Joyce, Schindler’s regional general manager, explained that the lift was undergoing a planned upgrade when a part failed unexpectedly.
The part had to be sourced from interstate and was air-freighted overnight. Joyce added that regular updates were shared with the building’s management team.
Disability advocates weigh in
While these explanations may offer some clarity, advocates say they fall short.
Megan Spindler-Smith, deputy chief executive officer of People with Disability Australia, said Shane’s case is not unique.
‘Sadly, this isn’t the first time we’ve heard of people with disability—including wheelchair users—being overlooked during emergencies,’ she said.
‘Lifts break down, and things go wrong, but that’s exactly why buildings must have inclusive emergency plans in place.’
‘Everyone has the basic human right to access their home—or, at the very least, be provided with safe and reasonable alternatives.’
Have your say
Have you ever been locked out or stranded due to a building fault? Do you think building managers and maintenance companies are doing enough to support people with mobility needs?
We would love to hear your thoughts—share your story in the comments below. Your voice can help shine a light on this issue and push for real solutions.
Also read: What to do when strata rules limit your laundry options
