Concerns have been raised that there are thousands of people who are awaiting repairs to their council homes in Reading as a major improvement project has been approved.
Reading Borough Council is one of the biggest landlords in the town, responsible for managing 5,833 properties including temporary accommodation.
Recently, councillors agreed a £30.1 million (£30,138,000) spend on maintenance, repair and improvement works to its housing stock at a meeting.
However, concerns were raised about the number of outstanding repairs stretching to more than 5,000 in November 2024.
Councillor Josh Williams (Green, Park) stated that in 2021 there were around 400 outstanding repairs.
He said: "That isn't great, but is entirely understandable given the number of properties, and everyone's home needs repairs sometimes.
"But as of November last year that had gone over 5,000 outstanding repairs.
"That figure could now be worse. None of us want that situation to continue, thousands and thousands of outstanding repairs is too much."
He then asked for an update on what the council is doing to bring that down.
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Natalie Waters, the assistant director of housing landlord services, said: "In relation to repairs, I can confirm that the current outstanding WIP [work in progress] is at 2,617, so a lot of work has been done to significantly reduce the number of outstanding repairs."
Earlier, cllr Williams praised the efforts to improve thermal efficiency in council houses and flats.
He said: "It's great the council is doing those works, it's great that there is a focus on thermal efficiency."
More efficient insulation and triple-glazed windows are part of the council's Wensley Road estate flats project, where £9.9 million will be spent on these measures.
Cllr Will Cross (Labour, Redlands) noted that seven per cent of the council's properties did not meet the Decent Homes Standard, which is the barometer defining expected living conditions in council housing.
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According to the law, a Decent Home is one that is fit to live in, is in a reasonable state of repair, has reasonably modern facilities and services, is insulated to a reasonable standard is weatherproof.
Cllr Cross therefore asked what is being done to address the issue.
Director Waters replied: "I'm happy to report that the figure of indecent properties has actually reduced, we have just mobilised a new contractor Ridge, they've already started surveys this week, and they'll be concentrating on any properties where they haven't had a decent homes survey in the last five years.
"In relation to the budget and funding set aside for that, we've done some work to try and estimate what that may look like."
The council will spend £3.7 million (£3,772,000) on remedial works to make sure the Decent Homes standard is being complied with.
The programme for works to housing stock was approved by the council's housing, neighbourhoods and leisure committee in March.
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