Tenants angry as improvements put on hold (From Durham Times)

Tenants angry as improvements put on hold

8:40am Sunday 7th February 2010

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TENANTS are calling on their social landlord to carry out promised improvements to their homes.

Cestria Community Housing, which owns and manages about 4,300 former council properties in the Chester-le-Street area, is carrying out a modernisation programme to bring its stock up to the Decent Homes standard.

This includes new kitchens and bathrooms, but the work on flats on the West Lane Estate in Chester-le-Street has been “put on hold’’ while Cestria considers carrying out soundproofing.

Residents say they have had no official explanation and 45 so far have signed a petition for the improvements to go ahead as planned.

Shop assistant Rita Skeoch, who launched the petition, said she had been given two explanations – that there had been complaints about noise coming through the ceiling and also that Cestria was looking at turning the flats into houses. She said that few fellow flat residents said that noise was a problem.

“We have not been told what they are going to do. It is total chaos as nobody knows what is going on.’’ “Until I went around with the petition, not one person knew what was going on .They hadn’t had a letter from Cestria saying it wasn’t going ahead.’’ She said people could sign the petition at her home, 11 Malvern Avenue, or at the local Spar shop where she works.

Cestria chief executive Ian Broughton said: “It is unfortunate that a letter was incorrectly sent out to some tenants living in West Lane about the modernisation programme. However, this work cannot happen until we resolve the issue of poor sound insulation that exists in these flats.

“As part of the modernisation programme for these properties, we have asked architects to survey them to ensure that they provide a minimum level of sound insulation.

“We are also exploring other options for these flats, including the possibility of converting two flats into single three-bedroom homes if adequate sound levels cannot be achieved.

“Once we receive a detailed report from our architects, which is expected in March, we will review the options available and consult with tenants to find out their views on what should happen next.

“At this stage, no decision has been made and we are currently writing to the affected tenants, including Mrs Skeoch, to explain the current situation.”

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