Problem lofts fixed in Belper

Common loft faults here

Detached homes, 40% here, often have larger, newer lofts. Squashed insulation round the hatch and blocked eaves are the usual snags.

32% of the housing in Belper is semi-detached. When we open those hatches we often find cables buried under old insulation and eaves packed tight.

With 43% owning outright, many people in Belper have lived with the same loft for years. Insulation level with the joists is a sign it’s time to look.

If you can get into the loft, look out for drips on nails on frosty mornings, black spots on the rafters or felt or spray foam stuck to the underside of the roof. Any one of them is worth a free check.

Booking a loft check in Belper

Loft checks are available across Belper and nearby Ripley, Somercotes and Swanwick, Heanor, Eastwood and Derby.

On the form, pick the problem you’ve got. If you don’t know what it is, choose “Not sure yet” and describe what you’ve seen.

Who lives in what in Belper

9,030 or so households make up Belper (2021 Census). Look down most streets and you’ll mostly see detached houses and bungalows (40%), with semi-detached houses at 32%; terraced houses account for 20% and flats and maisonettes 8%. Owner-occupiers: 76%, of whom many own outright (43% of all households). Private renters: 15%. Social renters: 9%.

Figures: Office for National Statistics, Census 2021, Belper built-up area. Percentages rounded.