‘CAUTIOUS OPTIMISM’ OVER CLADDING
Big Issue North magazine, 7-13 February 2022
There is cautious optimism among those trapped in properties
with Grenfell Tower-type cladding that their campaigning has pushed the
government into action to resolve their concerns about the possibility of a
fire starting overnight and heavy insurance costs. The Grenfell Tower fire in
North Kensington in 2017 killed 72 residents. Fire spread quickly up its
exterior cladding, used on millions of properties.
Insurance costs
Julie Fraser, spokesperson for Liverpool Cladiators which supports residents with fire safety concerns, is a leaseholder at the Decks, a block of flats in Runcorn. She said: “After Grenfell, residents had safety concerns but in late 2017 we were informed by the agency that manages the flats everything was safe.
“Then in 2019 we were told the cladding was dangerous. We needed a waking watch [where trained staff continually patrol a building’s floors and perimeter to look out for fire]. Underground parking was prohibited by the fire service who also instructed us to pay to install new fire alarms. But people still live in fear.”
“Mine was £254 and is now £719. A friend pays £770,” said
Fraser. “Leaseholders nationally can’t cope and could lose their properties for
non-payment. Campaign groups have spoken to the insurance industry but they
pretend to be ignorant about the premiums we are paying.”
Another Decks tenant,
Paul Phair, fears he may lose his rented flat due to rising expenses, while an
elderly resident who owns his property now fears it is worthless.
Following Grenfell, it was estimated that £30 billion needed
spending on unsafe cladded properties. The government argued that tower blocks
that remained dangerous failed to comply with regulations. Developers contended
that regulations were at fault. Residents were caught in the middle.
Government U-turn
When the government was forced to agree to make tower blocks
safe it allocated £5 billion in support. Progress has been slow. In January
2020, West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service (WYF&RS) wrote to residents in
13 tower blocks telling them they may have to leave their properties unless
they had firm plans to remove dangerous cladding.
Two years on WYF&RS believes work is yet to be completed
on six of them.
A spokesperson said: “The six buildings have substantial
plans. Whilst we would like buildings that require defects to be remediated as
quickly as possible, we must appreciate the availability of competent engineers
to assess the requirements necessary together with the availability of
contractors and equipment. Remediation works span years.
“Our officers work with building owners to ensure that adequate
interim measures remain in place… we carry out routine checks.”
Government funds only covered blocks above 18 metres high.
That ruled out support for three of the six blocks at the Decks. Leaseholders
in smaller buildings were faced with taking out loans to remove unsafe
cladding.
In a sudden reversal
of direction, Gove recently announced that leaseholders in buildings 11 to 18
metres in height will not have to contribute to replacing cladding. Instead,
the £4 billion works “should be funded by the industries that profited… those
who mis-sold dangerous products, such as cladding or insulation…. those who cut
corners to save cash.”
Gove has threatened legal measures if the construction
industry and developers do not thrash out a solution for payment, and asked the
Financial Conduct Authority why insurance premiums have rocketed for many
customers where cladding has not been removed.
Fraser said: “The devil is always in the detail. Michael
Gove appears open to discussion and has promised regular meetings. I believe he
wants to get a grip of this.
“He is putting the onus on the developers and manufacturers.
Many are donators to the Tory Party and we don’t believe that they will take
this lying down. They will put up a fight. “So will we because it is only
through campaigning that we have made progress and there is still a long way to
go.”
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