Lefier has informed the tenants of its block of flats on the Westindischekade that their balconies are unsafe and that they should not use them until at least the end of 2018.
Translation by Traci White
OOGTV reports that Lefier told the renters living in the block of flats where a balcony became detached from the side of the building in early July that they should not use their balconies. “Our assessment revealed that the balcony fell off due to the steel in the concrete becoming rusted.”
Lefier told the tenants that their assessment of the other balconies on the building will be time consuming: “we hope to have some more clarity and solutions for the problem by the end of 2018.” The housing corporation says that residents should consider the balconies closed until further notice, but told them that the balconies will not spontaneously become detached due to additional structural support that has been put in place.
Many residents were not pleased to hear the news, especially in the throes of an unusually long heat wave in the region. Lefier informed the tenants that they would be looking into installing a brace to open the doors a crack to permit air flow into the units. The braces should be installed in late August and early July.
Residents living in corner units, however, can safely use their balconies because they are being supported from multiple sides. The balconies will be visually assessed in September.
