The problems have persisted for a while now, because several attempts were made to fix them. The pipes were flushed three times, but without success. ‘Because tenants are still left without heating, we have decided to replace the entire system in three weeks,’ says Bas Hulsbergen, manager of student housing. ‘Originally, this renovation was scheduled for the coming summer, but that project has now been brought forward.’
Works
According to Hulsbergen, the aim is to complete the replacement within six to seven weeks. This means residents may experience disruption in the meantime. ‘Each studio will require one to two days of work,’ adds neighbourhood consultant Anke Vos. ‘Especially because new holes will have to be drilled everywhere.’
Veste Wonen had already noticed that the pipes needed replacing due to leaks and a lack of hot water. ‘We kept solving those issues temporarily,’ says Hulsbergen. ‘But at some point that is no longer sustainable and you have to conclude that the homes are due for a more modern system. The current installation is entirely underground. In the future, that will no longer be the case, which means we can always access it if problems arise.’
Short-term solution
To combat the cold in the homes, Veste Wonen distributed electric heaters. In addition, residents also received an extra pair of socks. While the heaters provide some warmth, they also create another problem. Due to intensive use, the power grid is often overloaded. ‘To prevent this, we are laying a cable as soon as possible to a nearby, unoccupied complex that is currently being renovated,’ says Hulsbergen. ‘By drawing power from there, we create additional capacity.’
According to one resident, who prefers to remain anonymous, living in the patio houses is currently far from pleasant. ‘But I think there is little Veste Wonen can be blamed for. They are acting proactively, staying in touch with us, and they themselves depend on external parties,’ the affected resident says. ‘To get warmer, we even turn on the oven in the kitchen for a while. Sometimes it is really only nine degrees in here.’
Veste Wonen is considering compensation for the tenants. ‘We are currently looking into how much that amount will be and for which period,’ says the student housing manager.
