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Before the cladding debate starts today, I think context is important.
For nearly three and a half years the government has been consistently saying that leaseholders should not pay for cladding costs, yet here we are. Here is a timeline
For nearly three and a half years the government has been consistently saying that leaseholders should not pay for cladding costs, yet here we are. Here is a timeline
Sept 2017: Alok Sharma tells local authorities that the government expects building owners to pay for the costs of fire safety improvements.
Dec 2017: When the first cases of leaseholders facing ACM removal charges, the then housing secretary Sajid Javid said the private sector should follow the lead of the social sector and protect leaseholders from charges. https://www.insidehousing.co.uk/news/news/javid-private-landlords-should-not-charge-leaseholders-for-cladding-work-53475
Jan 2018: Sajid Javid says in parliament that freeholders have a âmoral duty to pay for cladding remediation costs and says leaseholders should be protected https://www.insidehousing.co.uk/news/news/leaseholders-across-the-country-could-face-fire-safety-bills-in-tens-of-thousands-54084
April 2018: Barratt becomes the first developer to agree to cover the costs of remediating dangerous ACM from the Citiscape building in Croydon. The decision is hailed by Sajid Javid who says.
May 2018: A new housing secretary, the same message. After announcing ÂŁ400m for the social sector to remove ACM, Mr Brokenshire doubles down that building owners should not pass on the costs.
September 2018: For the first time the government ânamed and shamedâ developers threatening them with âenforcement actionâ if they did not strip ACM cladding. (Spoiler alert: two and a half years later there is still a lot of ACM on private buildings) https://www.insidehousing.co.uk/news/news/brokenshire-issues-warning-to-private-firms-about-cladding-costs-57841
Nov 2018: Brokenshire announces the combustibles ban, banning all combustible materials on high rise blocks.He also says councils will carry out emergency remediation on ACM clad buildings (Donât know what happened to this) and again mentions leaseholders should not pay
March 2019: @ukcag is born and leaseholders join together to campaign for freeholders to pay for cladding remediation work and for leaseholders to be protected from costs. https://www.theguardian.com/society/2019/mar/10/private-flat-owners-start-campaign-over-grenfell-style-cladding
May 2019 The #EndOurCladdingScandal launched and gov sets up ÂŁ200m fund to cover the costs of ACM removal from high-rises. This was ultimate proof that the government thought leaseholders should not bear the costs. Even the PM at the time said so. https://www.insidehousing.co.uk/news/news/government-creates-200m-fund-to-remove-grenfell-style-cladding-from-private-blocks-61350
