A SOCIAL housing provider is celebrating after becoming after achieving the Decent Homes Standard - meeting tough Government targets.

During the last five years £20 million has been spent improving council housing for tenants in Durham City, with Cuthbert Avenue, in the Sherburn Road area, being one of the last places to undergo modernisation.

Klare Laverick and her two sons Andrew and Nathan are one of the families to benefit after their home underwent a full refurbishment, including rewiring, plastering, and the installation of a new heating system, fire, kitchen and bathroom.

And while the work inevitably meant some upheaval at the time, Klare says the end result was well worth it.

She said: "It’s absolutely beautiful. I can’t fault the workmen at all, they were brilliant, and it’s made a big difference to me and my children.

"I love it and would never go back to the way it was before."

Modernisation of the council-owned properties has been managed by Durham City Homes and carried out by external contractors and in-house tradesmen working for Durham County Council.

Councillor Clive Robson, cabinet member for housing at Durham County Council, said: "I am very pleased that Durham City Homes is the first social housing provider within the county to achieve the Decent Homes Standard.

"None of this would have been possible without the help and support of Durham City Homes tenants, contractors and staff."