Over a decade of Bouet GHA homes’ repairs winding down
BOUET residents will see repair work begin to wind down after ‘over 10 years’ of structural problems, as final renovations are completed.
The Guernsey Housing Association’s Hougue a la Perre development buildings in the Bouet have been under constant renovation since 2007.
GHA’s chief executive Steve Williams confirmed repairs were currently being undertaken on the residential properties.
‘We are steadily working around the buildings, surveying them individually to assess what repairs are needed,’ he said.
‘We have to agree on each building with the insurers, which is a time-consuming business, but the first building in block D has repairs which are due to finish in early July.’
However, block F building repair work has yet to have a start date.
‘We do not yet have a firm date for starting repairs on block F, as this is still to be agreed with the insurer and their loss adjuster,’ said Mr Williams.
‘We are making preparations to move some residents out and have been writing and meeting with the residents in block F and seeing if any of the partial owners are in a financial position to move to buy in the private sector.’
To make up for the years of disturbance, GHA will now also be adding balconies for residents in the properties.
‘On completion of the repair work to the first building, we will be adding balconies to give the residents some individual outdoor space, which they did not have before, so that is a real positive,’ revealed Mr Williams.
‘This is something we would like to do for all the above ground flats, provided we can obtain planning permission.’
GHA actioned developers Harbour View Construction Ltd and building suppliers Pentagon (Jersey) Wholesale Limited on 2 November last year, in relation to building materials and work carried out on the Hougue a la Perre development.
The properties in the Bouet consisting of 77 flats and houses, with around 150 people living there in six blocks, A-F, built between 2007 and May 2009, were claimed to be not fit for occupation once completed, with damp a reoccurring problem.
The court deadline has been moved from its original date last year by joint agreement to gather more information.
No defences as yet have been filed.
Various consent orders have been agreed over the filing of defences and the current position is that they must be in by Friday 2 August.
