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Leaseholders call for cladding fund to cover all fire safety defects as hundreds respond to consultation
Hundreds of leaseholders have called on the government to extend its £1bn cladding remediation fund to cover other fire safety defects, including inadequate fire breaks and missing insulation.
A survey by the Housing, Communities and Local Government (HCLG) Select Committee, which received 1,352 responses, found that more than a third (34%) of respondents had missing or inadequate fire breaks while a further 30% noted combustible or missing insulation – issues that are not covered by existing government funds.
Other issues reported which are not covered by the government’s £1bn Building Safety Fund include timber balconies or walkways (14%) and inadequate fire doors (5%).
The £1bn fund, announced at the recent Spring Budget, will be used to remediate all unsafe materials form private and social sector residential buildings above 18m. It will be launched this month.
More than a quarter (27%) of respondents to the survey said that money should be extended to cover all serious fire safety defects, including missing fire breaks.
According to the survey, 70% of respondents still have dangerous cladding on their buildings and have yet to see it removed.
Respondents also highlighted issues of high ongoing costs caused by waking watches and increased insurance premiums, as well as indirect costs such as properties being valued at zero by lenders and difficulties mortgaging.
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Inside Housing previously reported on a block in Birmingham which had seen a 1,237% increase in insurance costs.
The HCLG committee noted that there is an ongoing lack of clarity for residents regarding the extent of fire safety defects in their buildings. Many also said the current cladding crisis is having a significant impact on their mental health.
Clive Betts, chair of the HCLG committee, said: “I would like to thank all those who took part in the survey. It is vital that we get an understanding of the reality of the situation for thousands across the country as we continue our work into cladding remediation.
“What we have heard is not encouraging and it appears that much more will need to be done if people are to feel safe in their homes, and no longer face the stress of large bills to resolve issues not of their making.
“The Housing, Communities and Local Government [Committee] will continue to hold the government and industry to account while the issues remain widespread.”
Matt Wrack, general secretary of the Fire Brigades Union, said: “The fire safety fund announced in the Budget still abandons thousands of residents trapped in dangerous buildings below 18m and in buildings with other fire safety defects.
“£1bn is not enough to address the building safety crisis we are facing. The government needs to urgently conduct an open and accountable national audit of unsafe buildings, properly cost the work and set out ways to recover the cost from building owners.”
A Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government spokesperson said: “Our new legislation will provide stronger, systematic oversight to ensure the safety of residents and puts tougher duties on those responsible for high-rise buildings.
“We have also been clear that in order to ensure the safety of residents during the coronavirus pandemic,ork to remove these unsafe materials must continue where it can be done safely and in line with public health guidance.”
Update at 14:30 06/05/20: story edited to include Matt Wrack’s comments
Update at 08:58 07/05/20: story updated to include MHCLG response
