By Harry Scoffin A row has broken out over building safety inaction following an appearance by Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick on BBC Question Time last night. The fourth and final question of the current affairs programme, broadcast from Bolton, centred on whether the government “has done enough to tackle unsafe cladding”. Audience member Alex Gill […]
Jenrick questioned over cladding help inconsistencies by BOTH Conservative and Labour MPs
By Harry Scoffin While leaseholders with Grenfell ACM (aluminium composite material) are in line for a £200 million handout from taxpayers, those with other forms of combustible cladding – now estimated at 500,000 flats, “come together and raise sufficient funds”, the Communities Select Committee was told on Monday. Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick claimed that “banks […]
Queen’s speech silent on meaningful leasehold and commonhold reform
By Harry Scoffin Today’s Queen speech commits the government to legislate to go over the heads of landlords to help flat lessees gain … super-fast broadband. The Telecommunications Infrastructure (Leasehold Property) Bill – an initiative from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport – has been described as necessary to “accelerate the delivery of fast, […]
Reviewer of building regulations admits post-Grenfell safety regime open to abuse by rogue freeholders
By Harry Scoffin The former health and safety commissioner tasked to investigate building standards following the Grenfell Tower fire has criticised government for allowing it “to take so long” to agree her blueprint for maintaining the integrity of high-rise residential blocks. In comments to the Communities Select Committee on Monday, Dame Judith Hackitt also raised […]
Martin Boyd flags controversial civil servant letter to City Hall at fire safety meeting
By Harry Scoffin LKP chair Martin Boyd was quizzed on fire safety in residential buildings and the government’s handling of post-Grenfell remediation works at City Hall yesterday. He sat alongside professionals from the London Fire Brigade, the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, London Tenants Federation and Barking & Dagenham Council’s BeFirst regeneration corporation. Speaking to […]
Freeholders given makeover as ‘duty-holders’ with an identifiable ‘responsible person’ in post-Grenfell overhaul of building safety regs
By Harry Scoffin Last week government issued a call for leaseholders of flats in high-rise buildings to submit their views on how their homes can be better protected from fires and other structural risks. The public consultation closes at 11:45pm on 31 July 2019. This development comes as a response to the Independent Review of […]