Bermuda Housing Corporation tenants of Slippery Hill in St. George?s are facing a long displacement as the Government quango is tackling both hurricane repairs and planned renovations at their former homes.

BHC General manager Vance Campbell said extensive repairs had been planned for the apartments as the Class Two historical building had fallen into disrepair.

But, when Hurricane Fabian caused extensive roof damage to the building ? forcing tenants to move to emergency housing ? the BHC made the decision to repair the roof and do other renovations simultaneously so that tenants would only be displaced once.

BHC also hopes to add new rental units to the building.

?We?ve also taken a closer look at the building and believe we can get one, possibly two, additional apartments (in) there,? Mr. Campbell said.

The additional apartments would be built into the basement of the building, he said.

There are four existing apartments at the former British army building, housing around 20 residents.

Two of the families who had been living in the apartments have been split up between emergency housing and other family members, while the two other families are in apartments.

The tenants will have to be housed elsewhere for significantly longer than first expected, Mr. Campbell said, especially as the BHC is proceeding ?carefully? with the renovations, given the building?s historical value.

BHC will be meeting with Planning and the St. George?s Historical Society this month about the repairs, and hopes to have final plans submitted to Planning by the end of the month.

Repairs are not expected to be completed until the end of September.

?The families who had to be separated are obviously not happy, but they understand the situation,? said Mr. Campbell.

?Now that we know it?s going to take longer, we?re trying to put them into more comfortable positions. We want them to be together as a family, even if it?s not in the unit they wanted. We?re trying to go about it in the right way, carefully.

?(The tenants) main concern was having a guarantee they will be moved back in once the work is done,? he said, adding BHC has sent written confirmation to the tenants assuring them this is the case.