Housing Minister David Burch will be meeting with residents of the Bermuda Housing Trust properties to discuss their concerns about security.

"I have been receiving increasing correspondence from some of the residents concerned with security of their premises," he said at a press conference yesterday.

"Steps are already underway to address these concerns but there appears to remain unease amongst some of the residents. In an attempt to get an immediate handle on potential problems I wish to hear first hand their concerns so that I am in a better position to address them."

Residents of the properties - Elizabeth Hills, Heydon Trust, Purvis Park and Ferguson Park - will be informed in writing of the dates of the meetings.

Senator Burch also announced that the Bermuda Housing Corporation (BHC) had brought on "several small contractors" to handle service calls.

He said the calls had been increasing and that the Corporation was having a hard time handling the deluge, especially since one of their officers had left.

"We currently have 250 outstanding calls. Clients are asked to only call the Corporation to report maintenance problems if they have not been contacted within the next two weeks."