West Lothian Council has been preparing homes for the homeless and hospital discharges during the coronavirus crisis.
The Building Services team from the council are carrying out important work to support the response to the Covid-19 emergency.
This has included work on empty properties with the service continuing to work on preparing homes for people to move into.
This work has so far provided 67 people or families with safe and secure temporary accommodation during the Covid-19 outbreak.
While the outbreak has resulted in routine work stopping, there are still services being provided to tenants.
Emergency repair work is still taking place.
Emergencies include a serious water pipe leak, a total failure of electrical supply, insecure properties or no heating or hot water.
The service has also continued to fulfil gas services and safety checks where possible.
Measures to protect staff and tenants have been put in place in line with government advice.
This includes application of social distancing for employees, including one person vehicles where possible; maximum of two persons in a property at any one time; application of social distancing for tenants, including staying in another room, while staff are working in a property or maintaining a minimum 2m distance from employees and provision of PPE where appropriate.
Anyone looking for more details can keep up to date with Building Services via the West Lothian Council website.
Executive councillor for services for the community, George Paul has thanked staff for their hard work to help the council’s tenants.
Councillor Paul said: “In what has been a difficult time, staff are continuing to put in a tremendous amount of work to ensure properties are available for those leaving hospital and the homeless.
“They have to be thanked and congratulated for their efforts.”
