Social Development Minister Nelson McCausland has catalogued a series of over-charging abuses by Housing Executive contractors.

Speaking to the Assembly this morning, he said companies hired to carry out maintenance jobs claimed for more doors than existed on a property, left screws out of hinges and laid floor tiles poorly, among other examples of shoddy workmanship and over-charging.

In one case, a door that had been fitted by a contractor had to be taken off again and re-hung as it did not fit properly.

He is to introduce special measures and warned more radical responses were due, as tenants were "not getting the services expected or being paid for by the taxpayer".

Meetings will be increased between the Department and the Executive.

Mr McCausland said senior management in the Housing Executive did not respond quickly enough to early warnings of the widespread over-charging, and had lost valuable time to "protracted internal debate".

Of 12 reports by the Repairs Inspection Unit, eleven contained a negative rating and highlighted issues of poor workmanship and inaccurate charging.

Mr McCausland ordered the report into maintenance contracts after the Executive’s relationship with the Red Sky company was ended last year.

He claimed financial irregularities and other problems were not unique to Red Sky, saying: "One thing is clear to me - it is time for change, urgent change".

His words came a few days after Housing Executive chairman Brian Rowntree resigned, citing "personal stress" and "a challenging relationship" with the Department of Social Development.

(NE/GK)