MORE than 150 homes on a housing estate have been given new roofs as part of a replacement programme to tackle damp problems.

Housing association Bernicia has replaced the roofs of 155 houses on the Sherburn Road estate in Durham, as part of a £1m scheme, following complaints from tenants.

Michael Farr, executive director of assets and growth at Bernicia, said: “Tenants told us about the problems they faced living in cold homes, and the difficulties that led to with condensation and damp.

“We acted on their concerns and put in place a £1m roof replacement programme, fitting insulation and new roof linings to keep more heat in the houses."

The work was carried out by contractor Esh Living over the last four months.

Former pub landlord Ann Anderson has lived on the Sherburn Road estate for 19 years and is registered as disabled due to arthritis.

“We’ve had a new roof, boiler and kitchen put in,” she said. “The new roof has made it a lot warmer and the house looks nice and neat outside.

“The lads from Esh are great lads, good workers. They picked up all the rubbish, the roof tiles from the garden after they has finished, really made it all tidy.”

Neighbour Nicola Barker added: “I was really pleased with the standard of the job that was carried out on my property.

"They were very polite and tidy and have done a fantastic job.”

MP Roberta Blackman-Woods said: “Residents got in touch to say there was a big issue with damp homes and the paint was peeling off the walls outside.

“The difference now is amazing, it’s more than any one of us had hoped for. It has really given the houses a new lease of life and the tenants are very happy.

“The fact that Bernicia used a local construction company in Esh Living to do the work is really fabulous.

"That has not gone unnoticed."

"It’s a company based in Durham, carrying out a really high standard of workmanship and we’re all very, very happy about this scheme.”