The lifts in Havering council homes are set for upgrades as part of a £6 million improvement plan.

This scheme spans two years, targeting council communal tower blocks, low-rise and sheltered schemes.

After a leaseholder consultation, a contract will be given out to renovate lifts at Charlbury Court, Garrick House sheltered blocks and The Rotunda general needs block.

Work is expected to start in June, with each block demanding around five weeks of labour.

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Another contract, following a leaseholder consultation, will replace the lifts at Edinburgh House, Elizabeth House, Mountbatten House, Victoria House, Kipling Towers and Dryden Towers.

Starting in August, this second phase of improvements is expected to take between 18 and 24 months.

Lastly, a third contract for the installation of nine new lifts at Beehive Court, Ravenscourt Grove and Garrick House sheltered schemes will start in October.

This phase is set to last around 10 months.

Councillor Paul McGeary, Cabinet Lead for Housing, announced the plan during February’s Cabinet meeting.

He said: "This lift replacement programme and subsequent regular servicing will be a significant improvement for our tenants, particularly those that rely heavily on them like young families, the elderly, disabled and vulnerable.

"We have held consultations with the affected residents and will hold further consultation meetings with them in due course.

"This is particularly important as these works will likely have an impact on residents and we want to minimise the disruption as much as possible whilst the improvements are carried out."