Category: Fire Safety Remediation

Our statement on Michael Gove’s building safety update

We thank Michael Gove and his Department for their work to ensure that 39 developers, who were initially asked to sign the Government’s pledge a year ago, have so far signed the developer remediation contract. The “naming and shaming” of those who have still failed to take responsibility is appreciated – and long overdue. Mr Gove’s apology to leaseholders for the many years that we have been forced to wait for our homes to be made safe is also welcome. However, the time for tough talk is clearly over. 

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No backsliding: Developer safety ‘pledges’ must be turned into unambiguous legal contracts without further delay

In April, Michael Gove announced that the biggest UK homebuilders had ‘pledged’ to fix all unsafe buildings over 11 metres in height that they had played a role in developing in the last 30 years.

The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) press release declared this ‘a victory for leaseholders’ – although we think leaseholders will be the judge of that, and the devil is still very much in the detail.

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Another 5-7 years until all Barratt buildings are made safe: Report from Barratt’s October 2022 AGM

Companies use Annual General Meetings (AGMs) to show shareholders how well the Directors are running the company. With the right planning, and access to company shares, they are a good opportunity for campaigners to raise issues with key decision-makers.

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London City Hall

Mayor of London responds to our ‘Dereliction of Duty’ report

We met with the Deputy Mayor of London, Tom Copley, this summer, to discuss our ‘Dereliction of Duty’ report published earlier this year. The report explains how housing associations failed their leaseholders and shared owners trapped in the building safety crisis. During the meeting we also discussed a range of urgent issues – more on this soon.

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Statement on our 3 August meeting with Housing Secretary Greg Clark

We would like to thank the new Secretary of State for Housing, Greg Clark, for meeting us to listen to the stories of ordinary people trapped in the building safety crisis. Mr Clark told us that he considers this scandal to be the most important issue facing his department today, and one that he is determined to solve. Last week, a construction industry source suggested that finalising contracts should be delayed until a new prime minister is in place. However, Mr Clark has told us that the Government will accelerate policies put forward by his predecessor, Michael Gove, and that there will be no ‘treading water’.

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