You are viewing 1 of your 1 free articles
Welsh government ‘actively exploring options’ to protect leaseholders from cladding costs
The Welsh government is “actively exploring funding options” for cladding removal and other building safety work in a bid to protect leaseholders from remediation costs.
In a statement published today, Welsh housing minister Julie James said that the government is currently “considering funding models” to pay for remediation work, but warned that whatever option it pursued is “not likely to result in a completely satisfactory result for all”.
Responding to a question from Inside Housing, the Welsh government said it is not yet making a commitment that leaseholders will not have to pay for works.
Ministers are also considering what types of defects any funding should cover, Ms James’ statement added.
She said she wanted funding to pay for “defects such as compartmentation and more proactive measures such as the installation of sprinklers” in addition to the removal of cladding.
This differs from the approach taken by the UK government in England, where the Building Safety Fund applies to cladding work only.
READ MORE
Ms James has previously refused to commit to funding the removal of dangerous cladding on privately owned blocks in Wales, arguing that this is not the responsibility of the taxpayer.
In addition to her statement, Ms James has written an open letter to developers of buildings where safety issues have been uncovered, urging them to “step up to their responsibility and put these faults right”.
The minister said remediation costs should not fall on leaseholders, “who bought properties unaware that they had fundamental defects”, or on Welsh taxpayers, “who are equally not at fault for these building failures”.
It comes in the same week that the Westminster government’s building safety minister attracted heavy criticism after he said the government expects leaseholders to pay for some of the remediation costs to make their buildings safe.
Ms James said she is working with her counterparts in the UK government and other devolved administrations to find a solution.
She added: “I am keen that as UK governments we explore every available avenue to ensure that those best able to address the issues meet their responsibilities.”
The Welsh government is currently in the process of reforming its approach to building safety and plans to publish a white paper early next year.
