Propertymark urges government to speed up cladding removal

Propertymark urges government to speed up cladding removal

9:26 AM, 9th December 2024, About a month ago

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The government’s ambition to remove unsafe cladding from buildings by 2029 has been welcomed by Propertymark – but it is concerned about the pace of remediation.

It is also worried about the clarity of responsibility for remediation works.

Building Safety Minister Alex Norris warned building owners last week that they could face jail if they fail to remove dangerous cladding.

The government has also issued a 2029 deadline for action.

Considerable challenge ahead

Henry Griffith, a policy and campaigns officer at Propertymark, said: “While the recent acknowledgement and plan to accelerate remediation is welcome, they have a considerable challenge ahead of them considering the pace of remediation thus far.

“Additionally, we have seen little action on existing costs for leaseholders, especially those who are exempt from leaseholder protections.”

He added: “We urge the UK Government to meet its manifesto promise of protecting leaseholders from bearing the costs of remediation as no leaseholder should pay for their homes to be made safe.”

Use of the term ‘landlords’

However, the industry body has raised concerns about the recent use of the term ‘landlords’ in the media to describe those responsible for cladding removal.

Propertymark clarifies that it is the owner of the freehold of the property who is ultimately responsible for remediation works.

The body is urging the government to ensure future communication provides clarity for consumers and the industry to avoid misunderstandings.

Propertymark also emphasises the need for sufficient infrastructure and a skilled workforce to achieve the 2029 deadline.

According to the government, up to 7,000 buildings still have unidentified dangerous materials.

Despite this, progress has been slow, with more buildings identified with unsafe cladding than have been remediated since May 2024.

More information about the cladding scandal is available on this campaign website.


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