Roof repairs on Gateshead Council homes sees 'immense' 74% rise

Roof repairs on Gateshead Council homes have jumped to more than 6,400 cases in one year.

Councillors at this week's housing overview and scrutiny committee were told roof repairs are a “key repair pressure” with a 74% jump between financial years 2022/23 and 2023/24. In the previous financial year, Gateshead Council recorded 3,692 roof repairs, this has since increased to 6,407.

Chopwell and Rowlands Gill councillor Michael McNestry said: "I don’t have an answer to this but I want to make the point that a 74% increase in roof repairs is immense, I understand that.

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“But I still think there is a disconnect between the department and contractors on timing and how quickly people can get out to do work. I am not criticising anyone, but there is a disconnect and it comes through people complaining.”

Councillors were informed by housing officers that the council has let go of one roofing contractor owing to issues with the quality of previous work and performance following a review. A new roofing contractor has since been brought in.

Roof repairs have proved challenging in the past for the local authority. In one extreme case, one resident, according to a council report from April 2022, had to wait over three years for a new roof.

However, housing officers also stressed the improvements seen recently in housing repairs. According to council documents, repairs completed first time have increased from 52% in 2023/23 to 69% in 2023/224.

In addition, tenant satisfaction on repair times has increased from 42% to 69%. Overall satisfaction with repairs also saw a 20% this year, to 64%. The first uptick in overall satisfaction from tenants since 2015.