NIHE acts on backlog of work

This sees the recommencement of much needed maintenance and planned investment works in its properties and will also allow the backlog of repairs created by Covid-19 to be tackled.

Following the resumption of response maintenance earlier this month, a phased implementation of planned investment works was scheduled to start from Monday, July 20.

The Housing Executive envisages that normal services will have resumed by early autumn.

Colm McQuillan, Director of Housing Services at the Housing Executive, said: “Despite the Covid-19 lockdown restrictions, we have managed to carry out almost 20,000 essential and emergency repairs across Northern Ireland.

“Unfortunately, a significant backlog of non-emergency work has developed and we now propose to address this in a phased manner over the coming months, with the most urgent works being addressed first.

“Our contractors will be contacting tenants over the coming weeks to make arrangements to complete outstanding works and they will be obliged to follow Government guidance on working in tenant’s homes, with regard to social distancing and adequate hand, respiratory and environmental hygiene.”

The Director of Housing Services extended thanks to NIHE tenants “for their patience in these trying times”.

Mr McQuillan added: “We will be doing our utmost to resume our normal response maintenance service and planned investments works as soon as possible.

“Regular updates on our services continue to be made available through our social media channels and our website www.nihe.gov.uk,” he said.