EDMONTON'S MP said he has been reassured his constituents' worst housing problems would be sorted out, after a meeting with Enfield Homes' chief executive.

Andy Love and Enfield Southgate MP David Burrowes have both expressed concerns that the recently agreed £237 million in loans would not be enough.

But after a meeting with Enfield Homes' chief Bob Heapy this morning, Mr Love said he felt more positive about the situation.

“I was reassured on a number of things,” he said. “For example the lifts programme, Mr Heapy said he would be able to replace all of the lifts which were a serious problem in the borough.”

Mr Love said he was also about another source of concern, old, bent and cracked windows.

Mr Heapy told him all these, including the notorious Cristal metal framed ones, would be replaced.

Replacing heating systems, bathrooms and kitchens would then come next in the list of priorities, Mr Love said.

The money in the form of Government and council loans was approved after Enfield Homes achieved a good standard from the Audit Commission.

However the arm's length management organisation (ALMO) will not get the money in one big lump. Of the Government money, it has a guaranteed £50 million in loans this year and next.

The remaining £87m will be subject to a comprehensive spending review in 2011, after the next General Election.

Enfield Homes is obliged to bring all the housing it looks after to the Government's decent homes standard by 2014, an extended deadline than the original one, which was next year.

It started later than most ALMOs, however, and so has a lot of work to do in a short space of time with fixed resources.

Mr Love said Mr Heapy himself was unsure it could be done.

“Bob's view was the Government money plus the money which has been received by the council will deliver most of that but he wasn't confident enough to say it would definitely be delivered.”

Mr Love said he was still pleased that the Government had agreed to lend the money.

“If it is not enough I will be asking the Government for more.”

Mr Heapy was unavailable for comment.