Hendon residents whose homes were left uninhabitable because of fire damage to electric wiring have been able to return home two weeks ahead of schedule.
All 44 households at the block at Upper Fosters had to be evacuated on 9 May 2012 after a fire in an electrical cupboard damaged wiring throughout the building.
Barnet Homes, which manages the properties on behalf of Barnet Council, offered alternative housing to all of the affected individuals and families during the eight weeks it took to rewire the block and every flat. Staff also took the opportunity to install improved lighting and heating systems in the block.
A centre was set up at nearby Cheshir Hall during this period where residents could speak to Barnet Homes staff about the work, which had been originally scheduled to take ten weeks. The first households were able to move back home on Friday 6 July – two weeks ahead of the expected date.
Barnet Homes Chief Executive, Tracey Lees, visited some of those residents affected on Wednesday 18 July.
She said: “This was an unusual incident which caused huge disruption to many residents. It was good to meet some of them on my visit to Upper Fosters, and I would like to thank them for their patience and understanding during a very difficult period for them and their families.
“Our staff have been working extremely hard, through nights and weekends in some cases, to support the residents and enable them to move back into their homes. I’m pleased that we have succeeded in completing the work ahead of the original timescale and I hope life now gets back to normal for all of the residents at the block.”
Sian Stafford, one of the tenants at Upper Fosters, said: “Obviously we were in shock when this happened. But the staff were very helpful and I can’t complain about anything. I’m also really pleased with the new heating that’s been put in.
“I was lucky to get a property close by while the work was done, but I’ve got a lovely flat and lovely neighbours, so I’m really happy to be back home.”