MPs Launch Inquiry into Cladding Replacements Post-Grenfell

A GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE has launched an inquiry into the pace of cladding replacements on high-rise buildings following the Grenfell Tower fire.

The Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee inquiry is to review progress in removing potentially dangerous cladding from high-rise and high-risk buildings, as well as the adequacy of funding by the Government.

As of now, Government support has been limited to providing funding for the removal of ACM cladding from private sector properties. But work has yet to begin on 143 out of the 175 properties which have this form of cladding, more than two years on from the fire.

According to the committee, the impact on residents is not limited to the greater fire risk because of the combustible cladding on their properties.

Residents have found themselves footing the bill for round-the-clock fire patrols, increased insurance premiums and many have been unable to secure mortgages or sell the properties in order to move out.

Inquiry into Cladding Replacements

The Association of Residential Managing Agents believes that up to 500,000 people lived in homes that had some form of combustible cladding and the National Housing Federation has put the potential cost of removal at £10 billion for the social housing sector alone.

The inquiry will look at the size of the issue facing residents in buildings due to combustible cladding. It will also look at the quality and effectiveness of Government support for the removal of all form of dangerous cladding from existing buildings, especially the pace of remediation work.

Clive Betts MP

Chair of the Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee, Clive Betts MP said: “There are still hundreds of buildings encased in combustible cladding and thousands of residents facing serious financial strain as a result.

“The knock-on effect of dangerous cladding on buildings has been significant, with homeowners facing increased insurance or mortgage premiums, and even having to fund round-the-clock fire patrols simply to stay in their own homes.

“The Government is providing financial support to enable the removal of ACM cladding from privately owned buildings, but this appears to be far short of what is necessary to address the real scale of the issue.

“We have launched this inquiry to understand the impact that the Government’s response has had in providing support and driving forward remediation work. We also want to better understand the scale of the problems facing residents and look at what more will need to be done to ensure that buildings are made safe, and the financial impact on residents addressed.

“This Committee has already called on the Government to fund the removal of all forms of combustible cladding and criticised the pace of change. Nearly 1,000 days since the fire at Grenfell Tower, these issues must now be addressed.”

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