Flat owners urge new housing secretary to solve the cladding crisis following progress by Michael Gove in fighting their corner
- Flat owners are calling for more progress to solve the cladding crisis
- Former housing secretary Michael Gove made building owners pay for defects
- Leaseholders say new housing secretary Greg Clark must not halt progress
Cladding-hit flat owners are hoping that the new housing secretary will continue the progress of his predecessor, Michael Gove, in helping to resolve the cladding scandal.
That part of the housing market was paralysed following the Grenfell fire, as lenders refused to lend on cladding-hit properties, leaving flat owners in dangerous homes that they were unable to sell.
The former housing secretary Mr Gove has been widely praised for his progress in getting developers – rather than flat owners – to pay for fire safety defects.
It is hoped that Greg Clark, who has now stepped into the Government role, will be as effective as Mr Gove in making sure building owners pay for any remediation works.
Flat owner Natalie Carter (pictured) s calling for reassurance from Greg Clark, the new Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
Flat owner Natalie Carter explained: ‘Leaseholders urgently need reassurance from Greg Clark that the work Gove was doing to challenge developers to commit to paying for building safety remediation will continue.
‘While imperfect and not leaseholders yet protected, Gove made more progress than any other minister to date.
‘This work must continue. And we will be looking for a commitment to works towards abolishment of leasehold and implementation of commonhold.’
Greg Clark steps into the role following the sacking of Michael Gove, just before Boris Johnson made his resignation speech.
Mr Gove was credited with making huge progress in the sector, placing an emphasis on making sure developers took responsibility for fire safety defects.
Under his watch, the Building Safety Act was made law, making building owners – rather than the leaseholders of individual flats – financially responsible for making dangerous buildings safe.
It applies to buildings above 11 metres tall or with more than five storeys. Mr Gove suggested that a prison sentence may be given to building owners that did not comply and continued to invoice residents for remediation costs.
Cladding became a national issue following the fire at Grenfell Tower in London in 2017 when 72 people died and a further 70 were injured
Giles Grover, of campaigning group End Our Cladding Scandal, said: ‘We are sorry to see Mr Gove leave the Government.
‘Mr Gove was the fourth Secretary of State we have dealt with since this crisis began – we sincerely thank him and his officials for their engagement with us during his time in office and the determination to materially improve what was on the table since he was promoted to the role last September.
‘While the solution proposed by Mr Gove is by no means ideal, with a number of gaps remaining and action on the ground still insufficient, we have moved significantly further forward towards ending this scandal than we have over the last five years.
‘We have asked DLUHC’s policy officials for urgent clarity on the position of the ongoing work that is taking place, particularly in relation to the developer pledges that are in the process of being turned into contracts and the secondary legislation due to come into force on 20 July.
Innocent leaseholders have been in limbo for years and the work that Mr Gove has begun must not be brought to a halt
‘Innocent leaseholders have been in limbo for years and the work that Mr Gove has begun must not be brought to a halt. We are hopeful that, when a new Prime Minister is in place, people will finally be placed before politics.
‘We currently see no good reason why Mr Gove could not be re-appointed to ensure full stability and completion of the important tasks in hand. Failing that, we would need a politician of equal authority and determination to hold industry to account appointed to the role.
‘We welcome the comments from the new Secretary of State, Greg Clark, who has said that he will provide stability, good governance and accountability to Parliament at this important time. Our direct request to him is for continuity over the coming weeks. We look forward to meeting him.’
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