Angela Rayner has announced new proposals to help more leaseholders at risk of high bills to fix serious building and fire safety defects.
Proposals unveiled during the second reading of the Remediation of Unsafe Cladding Bill included plans to recover the cost of remediation from cladding manufacturers, and raising the limit of the number of properties owned and eligible for protection from three to six.
Under current rules, protection from from some building safety bills depends on the circumstances of the person who owned the flat on 14 February 2022; and currently protections generally cover people who owned no more than three properties on 14 February 2022.
Under the proposals leaseholders who buy a flat as their only home but miss out on costs protections because of the previous owners’ circumstances will be better protected.
Leaseholders in collectively owned and enfranchised buildings are not covered because there is no separate freeholder. New government funding will help towards remediation of internal high risk and high-cost fire-safety defects.
Leaseholders who owned up to three properties on 14th February 2022 are generally covered currently. The proposals will increase this to six providing additional cover for individuals at risk of high bills through no fault of their own.
Building Safety Minister Baroness Blake explained the second reading included plans to speed up remediation action by placing a legal duty on those responsible to fix unsafe buildings, with those failing to act facing criminal penalties and fines of up to £500,000. It will also allow authorities to step in and get work done where those responsible consistently refuse to do so.
“We are going further to protect more homeowners from unfair costs and make construction product manufacturers contribute towards putting things right” she said, adding “Alongside new powers to force those responsible to fix unsafe buildings, these measures will help give residents the safety and security they deserve.
