Tower tenants allowed home after power restored
BBCAbout 150 residents forced to leave a tower block over fire safety fears have been allowed to return home.
A prohibition notice was issued on 20 May after a loss of power and water hit the Horizon building, in Borough Road, Sunderland city centre.
UK Realty Management, which rents out the flats in the privately-owned building, said it had worked "day and night" to resolve an electrical problem and that it had previously been told it would have to wait 16 weeks for a part to fix the system.
Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service (TWFS) said there was "no longer an imminent risk to life" and it was continuing to work with "partner agencies to address any residual fire safety issues".
TWFS said it had issued the original notice after "a loss of essential fire safety systems".
A spokesman for UK Realty Management said: "As management, along with the help of the freeholder, we were trying day and night to find alternatives as a 16-week wait was unviable."
He also said that repeated attempts by an electrician to resolve the issue had failed.
"We are thankful to the council and fire authority for all their ongoing support and help.
"At the same time, I would also like to confirm that management and the freeholder did everything over and above to make it happen in less than a week when it was presumed to be 16 weeks," the spokesman added.
"Currently the building is fully occupied with all compliances met."
Sunderland City Council had set up a reception centre at the nearby Raich Carter Leisure Centre in Hendon for tenants with nowhere to stay.
A spokesperson said: "We did offer housing advice and assistance to all displaced tenants who contacted us throughout the period Horizon was closed to ensure that nobody was left without accommodation."