Thousands awaiting home improvements in North
A cash shortage is delaying major improvements for several thousand Housing Executive homes in the North, it was revealed today.
Work like installing new heating systems, kitchens or bathrooms had to be curtailed because of collapsing house sales and the credit crunch.
But 1,838 new social houses were started during the 2009/10 financial year, the largest number for a decade, the executive's annual report said.
Executive chairman Brian Rowntree said: "Unfortunately, the shortfall in funding in 2009/10 meant we had to reduce drastically the number of discretionary grants for tackling disrepair and unfitness in private sector housing.
"It also meant that we were unable to begin major capital improvement works which had been planned for our own Housing Executive homes this year.
"The result is that there are now several thousand tenants awaiting major improvements."
No exact figure for the number of properties awaiting improvements is available. Maintenance to problems reported like burst pipes or blocked drains is unaffected.
For nearly two years, the executive has faced a shortfall in its house sale receipts of at least £100m (€122.3m) due to the collapsing market and credit crunch.
Because of that, the priority has been to direct resources toward housing for vulnerable people and those without a home of their own.
Full-scale improvement schemes have had to be deferred until capital proceeds from house and land sales recover.
The report said: "This is very disappointing for those tenants directly affected and who continue to wait for work to begin.
"It is equally frustrating for local Housing Executive staff who want to see local schemes proceed at the earliest opportunity."
Mr Rowntree said housing unfitness levels had fallen to an all-time low of 2.4%. Over 2,700 efficient home heating systems have been installed and over 7,600 households have been helped with heating and energy efficiency measures.
Mr Rowntree added: "The Housing Executive is concerned that a huge gap exists between the budget available and what we need to spend to meet housing need and deliver ongoing improvement.
"It is clear we need to find a more stable and financial footing for housing investment.
"As well as maximising the available public investment through reducing costs, we need to find additional funding provision through the development and delivery of more innovative approaches."
He said improving the housing stock in the private and public sectors contributed to better and warmer homes, better health and educational opportunities.
"It also gives vital support to those who work in the construction sector. That is why we must find new ways of delivering," he added.
