GHA to fix “handful” of houses during autumn and winter

Saturday 19 October 2024

Properties on four Guernsey Housing Association estates are being made safer.

The works involve installing renderboard, which is an outer ‘skin’, on some homes, and the Association say this will keep the properties safe from wind and water damage as we enter the winter months.

Residents on Rue Jammoneau, Rue Sarchet, Warry's and Courtil Reveaux have been told about the work, which starts this week.

The oldest of the properties is 11 years, construction was completed on both Rue Jammoneau and Rue Sarchet in 2013. The youngest, Courtil Reveaux, was completed in 2019. 

Local company Breton Construction will be undertaking the work, their Managing Director, Brent Green said, “We are pleased to partner with the Guernsey Housing Association to carry out these safety works. We will work closely with the client and residents to ensure that the works are carried out correctly, safely and with minimal disruption.”

These renderboards will mostly just act as a temporary measure, as securing them over the colder months will let the GHA see what is needed in terms of "permanent, related remedial works", which would start in the New Year. 

Pictured: Chief Executive Officer of the Guernsey Housing Association Vic Slade. 

Vic Slade, CEO of GHA said, “We have worked with local surveyors who have prioritised which properties should be worked on, and in what order. We’ve let residents of affected homes know what to expect and when, and that they will see Breton Construction working on site.”

She added: ‘As a housing association, we have an obligation to existing tenants to keep their homes in a good state of repair. The money from tenants' rent is used to keep existing homes in good condition, as well as fund the repayment of the borrowing we take out in order to deliver new homes. 

There will always be a balance to be struck between those priorities, especially as our homes get older and need maintaining or investment. We’ve been clear that as a housing association, we have to do both.’