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1. Residents stuck in dangerous cladding flats
2. Unsellable homes due to Grenfell-style cladding.
Accident – Death – Obituary News : Leaseholders frustrated as developers delay repairs on unsafe tower blocks with Grenfell-type cladding
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Leaseholders living in more than 1,000 tower blocks with unsafe Grenfell-type cladding have expressed their outrage as developers have yet to start repairs on 700 of these buildings. The freeholders who own these properties have been accused of dragging their heels, leaving residents feeling like ‘sitting ducks’ in potentially dangerous living conditions.
Data released by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities reveals that major housebuilders have made little progress since being pressured by Michael Gove to sign ‘developer remediation contracts’ in March of last year. These contracts require developers to assess buildings for life-threatening safety flaws, such as flammable cladding, and to fix them promptly.
Despite the urgency of the situation, work has not yet begun on 71% of the 1035 blocks of flats in England where developers have agreed to repair defects out of their own pockets. This delay is particularly concerning for homeowners who feel vulnerable due to the lack of progress on essential repairs.
The Government estimates that the remediation scheme will cost £2.74 billion, with significant financial implications for major developers like Bellway, Taylor Wimpey, and Barratt. However, progress has been slow, with only 14% of identified buildings seeing repair work initiated and just 15% completed.
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Homeowners like Charlotte Meehan and Giles Grover, who live in buildings constructed by Bellway, have been left in limbo as repairs are held up by legal disputes between developers and freeholders. Despite assurances of remediation timelines, many residents have yet to see any tangible progress on their properties.
As the situation unfolds, it has become apparent that as many as 28% of buildings with unsafe cladding have yet to be assessed for necessary repairs. Bellway, a major developer in the UK, has not even started work on 72% of the 170 buildings it constructed that require life-threatening defects to be addressed.
The lack of progress in remediating unsafe buildings has left homeowners feeling frustrated and abandoned. With legal battles prolonging the process and financial considerations causing delays, residents are left in a state of uncertainty and vulnerability.
As the government and developers grapple with the challenges of addressing unsafe cladding, leaseholders are left anxiously waiting for their homes to be made safe. The need for swift action and accountability in remedying these life-threatening defects is more pressing than ever, as residents continue to endure the consequences of inaction. Residents living in buildings with unsafe cladding are facing delays in remediation efforts as developers and freeholders continue to clash over legal frameworks and access permissions. The ongoing deadlock between E&M and Bellway has left leaseholders frustrated and anxious about the safety of their homes.
The issue stems from a desire to ensure that remediation work is carried out to the highest standard, with some residents expressing concerns about a repeat of past shoddy workmanship. However, the prolonged negotiations and legal wrangling have left many feeling trapped in unsafe living conditions.
One resident, Mrs. Meehan, shared her frustration, stating, “As leaseholders, we don’t care who does it, we want it done as quickly as possible. We just want our lives back.” She highlighted the impact the delays are having on her personal life, including her ability to start a family in a one-bedroom flat that is not suitable for raising children.
Bellway, on the other hand, blamed the freeholder for the delays, citing difficulties in obtaining access licenses to carry out necessary surveys and works. The developer emphasized their readiness to proceed with the remediation work but stated that without the freeholder’s permission, they are unable to progress.
In response, E&M asserted their commitment to ensuring the safety and wellbeing of residents and stated that they had provided a license to Bellway in February 2023. However, negotiations over revised terms have stalled progress, leading to further delays in the remediation process.
The ongoing dispute underscores the challenges faced by residents living in buildings with unsafe cladding, as they navigate complex legal and logistical hurdles to ensure their homes are made safe. As the deadlock continues, residents remain in limbo, waiting for a resolution that will allow them to move forward with their lives. The cladding scandal that has left thousands of people trapped in effectively worthless flats is a pressing issue that continues to affect homeowners across the UK. In response to this crisis, efforts are being made to expedite the process of remediation and ensure that affected residents can move forward with their lives.
One such effort involves seeking to meet with Bellway, a major developer, to progress matters swiftly. It is hoped that agreements can be reached in the coming days to allow Bellway to proceed with the PAS9980 survey as quickly as possible. This proactive approach is essential in addressing the urgent need for remediation in affected buildings.
The aftermath of the Grenfell fire in 2017 prompted the introduction of new rules that require buildings to undergo safety tests before they can be sold or mortgaged. This has resulted in a significant number of private flats becoming unsellable, leaving homeowners in a precarious situation. The impact of this crisis has been far-reaching, affecting millions of leaseholders and potentially paralyzing the housing market.
Several major developers, including Taylor Wimpey, Crest Nicholson Holdings, Vistry Group, Barratt Developments, Telford Homes, Persimmon, Fairview, Redrow, and Weston Group, have faced challenges in addressing the remediation works needed in their buildings. While some progress has been made by certain developers, others have yet to start or complete the necessary remediation efforts.
It is crucial for developers to prioritize the safety and well-being of residents by expediting the remediation process and ensuring that affected buildings meet necessary safety standards. The commitment to completing remediation works in a timely manner is essential in restoring confidence in the housing market and providing affected homeowners with the assurance they need to move forward.
As efforts continue to address the cladding scandal and its impact on homeowners, collaboration between developers, government agencies, and affected residents will be key to finding sustainable solutions and ensuring that all parties are able to navigate this complex issue effectively. By working together, we can make progress towards resolving the cladding crisis and providing much-needed support to those affected. The Berkeley Group, a leading property developer, has recently completed works on 34 out of the 57 buildings it developed that required remediation. This accounts for 60% of the buildings in question. Additionally, the company has assessed 93% of the total 815 buildings it has developed, with only 9% of them needing remediation works. This indicates that Berkeley Group’s buildings are less likely to have been constructed to dangerous standards compared to other developers such as Taylor Wimpey, which will need to remediate 67% of its assessed buildings.
Despite these accomplishments, there are still ongoing issues with the pace of remediation, as highlighted by Giles Grover, co-lead of the End Our Cladding Scandal campaign group. Grover emphasized that delays are primarily due to a shortage of assessors and fire engineers, as well as challenges in obtaining access from freeholders to assess and repair each building. He noted that developers often blame freeholders for delays, while freeholders point fingers back at developers, leaving leaseholders and residents in limbo.
Grover shared his personal experience at the City Gate development in Manchester, where Bellway sold the freehold to E&J estates without offering it to leaseholders first. This resulted in artificially low service charges, unresolved maintenance issues, and rising insurance costs for residents. He criticized the developers and freeholders for exploiting the leasehold system to their advantage, leaving leaseholders financially burdened.
One such leaseholder, Joe Douglas, expressed frustration over the complexities of leaseholds delaying cladding works at his block of flats in Colindale, North London. He blamed the freeholders for the bureaucratic hurdles that have stalled progress, leading to suboptimal outcomes for leaseholders who are ultimately left footing the bill for remediation.
In response to these challenges, a DLUHC spokesperson emphasized the government’s commitment to ensuring building safety through stringent regulations and investments in safety schemes. The spokesperson acknowledged the need for faster progress and collaboration with local enforcement authorities to address unsafe buildings effectively.
When approached for comments, developers such as Bellway reiterated their commitment to completing remediation works in compliance with regulations. Taylor Wimpey and Vistry declined to comment, while Barratt Developments highlighted discrepancies in reporting figures between themselves and DLUHC.
Overall, the completion of remediation works on a significant portion of Berkeley Group’s buildings is a positive step towards ensuring the safety of residents. However, the challenges and delays in the remediation process underscore the need for greater collaboration and accountability among developers, freeholders, and government authorities to expedite the necessary repairs and protect affected leaseholders. Our Building Safety Unit is steadily advancing with its projects and has enlisted the expertise of professionals to assess issues in 90% of our property portfolio.
As we remain dedicated to promptly remediating buildings for the well-being of residents, we acknowledge that various external factors beyond our control impact project timelines. These factors include the limited availability of contractors within a narrow supply chain, a scarcity of adequately qualified engineers, and the coordination with the Building Safety Regulator. We anticipate completing all remediation work within the next five years.
A representative from Farview affirmed, “Fairview is fully committed to the remediation of all buildings requiring attention under the Developer Remediation Contract. The initial phases of the remediation process necessitate thorough investigation and design input from specialist consultants before work can commence.”
Ongoing communication with the Department for Levelling Up, Housing, and Communities (DLUHC), building owners, and leaseholders is crucial to monitoring the progress of each case. The timeline for completing the remediation works hinges on the extent and complexity of the required remediation, as well as the availability of specialist consultants and subcontractors for the design and implementation of the work.
Telford Homes has dedicated a substantial investment and a team of seasoned professionals to fulfill their remediation commitments. The goal is to make substantial headway this year with the aim of concluding all remediation obligations by the end of 2027.
In a statement to MailOnline, a spokesperson from Redrow stated, “We are making significant strides in addressing fire safety concerns, with 100% of our identified buildings undergoing fire safety assessments. Progress is underway on all 59 identified buildings requiring external and/or internal works, with 14 buildings already having completed external works. Another 16 are currently in progress, and the remaining 29 are slated to commence within the next year.”
Crest Nicholson reiterated their commitment to expeditiously advancing assessment and remedial works. The company has provided updated data to the Government, showcasing substantial momentum since the last figures were released.
Despite a lack of response from Persimmon, Weston Homes assured proactive measures in addressing their remediation responsibilities. A dedicated team is focused on this matter, engaging with stakeholders across all sites requiring remedial works and finalizing necessary legal contracts to facilitate the commencement of the projects.
While legal processes mandated by the government may present delays, Weston Homes has already appointed contractors poised to initiate the works promptly upon agreement on the legal contracts. The urgency of completing these works is recognized, prompting regular follow-ups with stakeholders to prioritize the remediation efforts. the benefits of practicing mindfulness in today’s fast-paced world:
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