Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

Questions the Government on progress of ACM cladding removal, adequacy and coverage of funds for cladding issues, risk assessments for buildings under 18 metres, inclusion of social housing in building safety funds, funding requirements for defective balconies, fire doors, and insulation. Proposes a comprehensive fund covering all defects, tenures, and buildings, with accountability from developers, architects, and contractors.

The building safety Bill will be a landmark piece of legislation that needs to be introduced quickly. It should transform the regulatory system for buildings and clarify accountability throughout the life cycle of a building, from design to occupation. The funding package is significant but more clarity on financing schemes for intermediate-height buildings is needed, especially for leaseholders facing extenuating circumstances. Dedicated teams at MHCLG need to drill down into details of individual buildings to resolve complex issues. There should be discretion in situations where leaseholders have paid for remediation and cannot access the fund due to lack of application by building owners. Insurance costs are rising significantly; a solution similar to Flood Re could help stabilise insurance rates. The industry needs to take a balanced approach, but a tax on the building products industry may also be necessary.

This issue affects not only new builds but also conversions of old buildings into apartments. Leaseholders should not have to pay for defective buildings; primary responsibility lies with developers and builders who constructed these buildings. The situation is unacceptable, affecting mental health and financial stability of leaseholders. Urgent communication and joint working between UK Government and Welsh Government on Building Safety Fund allocations and timing are necessary. Questions about the tax and levy proposal need clarity. There is a lack of proper guidance flowing through for EWS1 forms since their introduction in April, and more chartered fire engineers and surveyors are needed to address the backlog of surveys. International examples like Vancouver's leaky condo scandal offer lessons on how to handle such issues.

Ms Brock discussed the ongoing impact of the Grenfell tragedy, emphasising that the failure to ban flammable cladding and prioritise safety over profit has left many homeowners in distress. She mentioned issues such as difficulties selling flats, increased mortgage premiums, and insurance problems. Ms Brock called for government intervention to provide financial support for building surveys, remediation costs, and legal action against those responsible. She also highlighted a successful programme in Scotland providing free whole-building inspections and urged the UK Government to implement similar measures.

Mr Brereton emphasised the need for more affordable, safe housing in Stoke-on-Trent. He welcomed the commitment of Staffordshire’s new police and crime commissioner to develop a fire plan addressing urban challenges such as unsafe industrial heritage buildings. He highlighted several levelling-up fund bids to revitalize historic sites safely while preserving historical features. Mr Brereton also supported initiatives like the 5% mortgage scheme for first-time buyers and asked for support on infrastructure projects, including railway restoration and enhanced bus services. Additionally, he raised concerns about illegal cannabis farms posing safety hazards in residential areas.

Welcomed the debate on Government spending on building safety and highlighted issues with the current approach. Emphasised that the Building Safety Fund lacks funding to address all fire safety defects and called for a comprehensive fund covering buildings of any height and tenure. Also criticised the loan scheme as unaffordable and urged the Minister to meet constituents affected by building safety issues.

Expressed gratitude towards builders and construction workers for working throughout the pandemic and praised new affordable housing developments. Highlighted challenges with brownfield site regeneration in Stoke-on-Trent due to low property prices and ongoing issues like sinkholes in Etruria. Suggested creating an expert body similar to English Partnerships to support places dealing with abnormal sites, aiming to unlock potential for affordable housing programmes.

The Government's housing policies are causing anger among constituents due to excessive profits by house builders, shoddy and dangerous homes being built, and high costs for leaseholders. The Help to Buy scheme has contributed to unaffordable new builds while failing to regulate the market adequately, leading to issues like Grenfell Tower. Competition is lacking in this market, and the Government must side with leaseholders and homeowners.

The building safety fund's deadline for applications is tomorrow, but many people are unaware of their eligibility due to a lack of information. The £5.1 billion committed to the fund is insufficient compared to the estimated £15 billion needed to make all unsafe buildings safe. Leaseholders in affected properties face significant difficulties and financial ruin without proper support. There needs to be underwriting by the Government to cover safety costs and ensure leaseholders are not penalised, with recovery from developers. Additionally, regulations must be enforced for Airbnb accommodations to match standards of holiday lets.

Councils spent almost £1.2 billion on temporary accommodation for homeless families between April 2019 and March 2020, with an increase of 55% in five years. The law is frequently broken regarding the placement of homeless families in B&Bs beyond six weeks, out-of-borough placements without proper notification to local authorities, and unfit housing conditions for human habitation. A regulator similar to Ofsted is needed to enforce existing laws and improve practices.

Sulgrave Gardens in Hammersmith and Chiswick illustrates the building safety crisis. Residents are living in terror due to flammable ACM cladding, despite not being eligible for government funding because of height restrictions. The 18-metre rule is inadequate, leaving leaseholders and tenants in fear. Social housing providers face financial strain from remediation costs, threatening their ability to maintain operations. Labour demands a comprehensive solution that addresses the variety of problems, ensuring safety without burdening residents.

The requirement for an external wall survey (EWS1) is a critical issue in the building safety crisis. This form is not regulated by the Government, leading to delayed identification of unsafe buildings and escalating costs for leaseholders. Labour advocates for a Building Safety Works Agency to manage remediation, ensuring safe conditions and facilitating property sales.

Representatives of affected constituents express the untenable situation caused by unaffordable safety defect costs and unsafe buildings. The Prime Minister's promise to protect leaseholders is ignored in practice. Remediation proposals like loan schemes are insufficient, leaving residents financially strained and unable to sell their homes or start new lives. There is a call for robust action using state resources to address comprehensive regulatory failure.

My constituents are trapped in unsafe homes due to the cladding scandal, unable to sell or move on and facing huge bills. I urge Ballymore to cover all safety costs legally and commit to securing my constituents' safety based on the principle that developers must pay. There is a concern about future construction projects lacking proper planning and building regulation enforcement.

The Building Safety Bill needs to meet current and future requirements without conflicts with existing regulations, particularly regarding permitted development rights. We need robust risk-based assessments tailored to each specific premises, proportional to the risk involved. There is a concern about the lack of fire engineers and certified risk assessors, and a need for better ventilation in buildings, which could help prevent the spread of contagions such as Legionnaires' disease.

Transparency in declaring a potential conflict of interest regarding building safety. Criticised the £5.1 billion fund for being insufficient, highlighting that it does not cover buildings under 18 metres. Emphasised the human cost of the crisis on families facing life-changing bills and mental health issues. Pointed out flaws in government due diligence regarding remediation costs. Raised concerns about the Government's plans for state loans which carry interest and would grow over time, making flats harder to sell. Criticised the exclusion of flammable insulation, balconies, and faulty cavity barriers from funding. Highlighted Scotland’s approach through single building assessments funded by the Scottish Government. Emphasised the need for a holistic approach including sprinklers and interconnected fire alarms. Raised concerns about extortionate insurance costs and called on the government to step in if necessary. Called for more funding to cover all remediation works of any height, fully funded by the government and industry.

The speaker highlighted that buildings are not markedly safer four years after Grenfell, and the Government's response has been inadequate. He mentioned real-life stories of residents facing threats from developers and unable to sell flats due to EWS1 chaos. The debate also called for a risk register and the establishment of a building works agency to speed up remediation processes.

The hon. Member for Hayes and Harlington highlighted cases where residents are facing threats from developers, having to jump through hoops to apply for the building safety fund.

The hon. Member for Vauxhall raised heartbreaking cases of constituents unable to sell flats and young families trapped by EWS1 chaos, despite Government promises that this is no longer the case.

The hon. Member for Sheffield Central cited a real-life story of a mother dreaming of buying a home but now faced with an unaffordable bill, considering taking her own life due to the building safety crisis.

The Minister outlined the Government's approach to building safety and remediation of unsafe cladding systems. He emphasised that leaseholders should not bear the cost of fixing defective cladding through no fault of their own, and the Government has provided funding packages for remediation work on high-rise buildings. The Minister also noted significant progress in remediation efforts for ACM cladding, with over 95% of identified high-rise buildings now either cleared or undergoing remediation.

The House has had a wide-ranging debate on building safety, highlighting the importance of addressing regulatory failures and cultural issues in the construction industry. Clive Betts emphasises that the Government should adopt the comprehensive building safety fund recommended by the Select Committee to ensure all safety defects are removed from homes.