The Property Institute (TPI) welcomes Alex Norris to the role of Minister for Building Safety

November 1, 2024
by News on the Block Editorial Team
News On the Block

Currently 4,821 residential buildings in England of 11 metres or more in height have been identified with unsafe cladding. Recent data shows that only 50 per cent of these buildings have started or completed remediation works, leaving an estimated 300,000 residents living in unsafe buildings. The struggle over who should bear the costs and responsibilities of making these buildings safe continues to overshadow the urgent need for action.

TPI is calling on the new Minister for Building Safety to make a commitment to proactive, tangible measures that prioritise safety above all else and ensure unsafe buildings are fully remediated as a priority, and residents are protected from unnecessary costs, by:

  • Removing legal and procedural barriers that delay critical building safety repairs and put residents’ safety at risk.
  • Revisiting proposed amendments from the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act to the Building Safety Act, ensuring leaseholders are shielded from the financial burden of building safety repairs.
  • Collaborating with industry to evaluate the practical application of the Building Safety Act, seeking opportunities to streamline processes and reduce costs for leaseholders.

Andrew Bulmer, CEO of The Property Institute said:

“We welcome Alex Norris to his role as Minister for Building Safety and look forward to working with him to improve building safety across the country.

“Although progress has been made, remediation work has been frustratingly slow, leaving too many residents trapped with a home they cannot sell and facing bills for safety defects they didn’t create.  Having investigated the delays and issues on the ground - which our members are grappling with every day - we have identified measures that can help remove the bureaucratic obstacles, improve the current process to speed up remediation and ensure all building fire and structural safety issues are resolved to bring peace of mind to residents.

 

“We’ve written to the Minister today outlining three clear steps that we believe are vital to ensure that routes to remediation are less restrictive, delays are reduced and residents can live safely in their homes, without spiralling costs.”

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