District housing stock up to standard despite repairs

MORE than £5 million in urgent repairs to a Devon council’s housing stock will be needed this year even after a better-than-expected review of its entire estate.

- BRADLEY GERRARD

The most pressing repairs have been unearthed as part of a long-awaited, wide-ranging analysis of East Devon District Council's more than 4,500 homes.

About half of this year's urgent repairs bill - £2.7 million - will be carried out on kitchens, with just over £1 million set to be spent on improving bathrooms and extractor fans.

The remainder will be focused on boilers and windows, which will be key as part of efforts to keep homes warmer and better insulated.

That will be a key focus for the council given the survey of its properties showed that 370 of them had instances of major or medium damp.