Posts - Page 3 of 12 - End Our Cladding Scandal

End Our Cladding Scandal Manifesto

Everyone deserves a safe home in which to live, work, care for our families and make plans for our future. A safe home is the foundation for building a life in which we can all fulfil our potential.

Yet more than six years after the Grenfell tragedy, hundreds of thousands of people remain trapped in unsafe and unsellable flats.

Berkeley Group’s 2023 AGM and our follow-up meeting

Thanks to the kind support of ShareAction, a leaseholder affected by the building safety crisis attended Berkeley Group’s AGM on 8^th September to question the Board on behalf of our campaign, and this was followed by a meeting on 13^th October, to discuss the issues raised in more depth.

Our meeting with Nationwide’s Head of Property Risk

Despite previous assurances from the big six mortgage lenders, far too many leaseholders of flats affected by cladding and other safety defects are still unable to sell or remortgage their homes.

As part of our campaign to ensure all stakeholders play their part in bringing a fair and speedy resolution to the building safety crisis, on 19th July we attended the AGM of the UK’s third largest mortgage provider, Nationwide Building Society, to question the Board. This was followed by a meeting on 1st September with their Head of Property Risk, Rob Stevens, alongside some of his colleagues.

First Remediation Order Granted Under the Building Safety Act

In August, a remediation order was granted by the First-tier Tribunal (FTT) under the Building Safety Act in the case of Waite & others v Kedai Limited. As the first case of its kind to reach a final hearing, it will be looked at closely by anyone considering potential litigation under the Building Safety Act.

Six years after Grenfell and one year after the Building Safety Act came into force, more than 90% of fire-risk flats are still awaiting remediation, therefore the likelihood of litigation being needed to break the deadlock remains high, unfortunately.

Our Meeting with Secretary of State, Michael Gove and the Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities

On Wednesday 6th September 2023, we met with Michael Gove, Lee Rowley and DLUHC officials. Twenty months since the Secretary of State’s reset on building safety and fourteen months since the leaseholder protections came into force, we wanted to ensure that Mr Gove is fully aware of the serious challenges with the Government’s approach to building safety and that homes are not being fixed as quickly as we need and deserve.

The meeting was a follow up to our July letter to Mr Gove, which highlighted our Five Asks to end this crisis permanently, which are supported by The Sunday Times and Inside Housing. In the short time available, we prioritised key areas based on this agenda.

Non-Qualifying Leaseholders meeting with Baroness Kath Pinnock

Baroness Kath Pinnock has always been an incredibly strong advocate for leaseholders and tenants affected by the building safety scandal, and she was keen to hear directly from the members of the Non-Qualifying Leaseholders group about the ongoing impact on their lives.

More than 50 members of the non-qualifying leaseholder community joined the meeting on 2^nd August and took the opportunity to share their experiences with the Baroness and hear her reaffirm her support for our cause.

Our meeting with Aviva investors and Aviva insurance

We met with executives from Aviva Investors and Aviva Insurance on 6^th July, to discuss in more depth the questions that we raised with Aviva’s board of directors at their recent Annual General Meeting.

Our letter to Michael Gove

We have written to Mr Gove to ensure he is fully aware that little has changed on the ground for the majority of leaseholders impacted by the building safety crisis and that his government must do much more to help leaseholders, all of whom are equally blameless, so that they can finally move on with their lives.

Our survey shows little has changed for leaseholders one year after the Building Safety Act

One year after the Government brought in new legislation to protect leaseholders from costs, our survey shows that little has changed on the ground for the majority of us impacted by the building safety crisis. We are still trapped in unsafe homes, still unable to sell, still with no idea when this nightmare will end.

Our statement on the sixth anniversary of the Grenfell Tower fire

On the sixth anniversary of the Grenfell Tower fire, we continue to send our love and support to the bereaved, residents, survivors and the wider community. Your fight is our fight.