Join the Fight for Justice: Support the Cladding Scandal Campaign

Join the Fight for Justice: Support the Cladding Scandal Campaign

8:59 AM, 3rd October 2024, About 2 months ago 6

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Parliament will debate the Grenfell Tower Inquiry Phase 2 Report today, which found the 72 deaths in the Grenfell fire were avoidable due to widespread failings. MPs will push the government on plans to act on the report’s recommendations.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer has pledged to “speed up fixing unsafe cladding,” and will set targets to ensure those responsible make their properties safe.

The aftermath of the Grenfell Tower tragedy has exposed a deep-rooted crisis within the UK property market. Thousands of innocent leaseholders remain trapped in unsafe buildings, unable to sell or remortgage their homes, and facing mounting financial pressures. The government’s failure to swiftly resolve the cladding crisis has left many in a state of despair, leaving their lives on hold for years.

The Cladding Scandal Campaign seeks to give a voice to these leaseholders and drive meaningful change. The website CladdingScandal.co.uk serves as a hub for this critical campaign, highlighting the devastating impact on property owners through personal case studies and urgent calls for action.

The Human Cost of Inaction

Many leaseholders are unable to obtain the essential EWS1 safety certificates required to prove that their properties are free from fire-risk cladding. As a result, they are plunged into negative equity, unable to remortgage, extend their loans, or sell their homes.

One lender, Mortgage Express, has taken leaseholders to court and has sold properties to cash buyers for massive discounts, causing negative equity and financial ruin for many property owners.

What makes this situation even more shocking is that Mortgage Express was bailed out by the government and subsequently became UK Asset Resolution (UKAR). This means that the government-owned UKAR is allowed to repossess flats from owners who are unable to remortgage or sell due to the lack of EWS1 certificates.

One case featured on the website details how a property purchased for over £300,000 was recently repossessed and sold for just £175,000 due to the lack of safety certification. These losses are not isolated incidents; they reflect the widespread market failure impacting thousands across the UK.

A Call for Support

The campaign is not just about raising awareness—it’s about fighting for justice. The website is building momentum to lobby the government for dedicated resources, such as a Cladding Minister and changes to repossession laws. Additionally, the campaign aims to establish a legal fund to support class action lawsuits, holding those responsible to account and seeking compensation for the financial and emotional harm inflicted on innocent property owners.

To achieve these goals, the Cladding Scandal Campaign has launched a crowdfunding initiative. Donations will support legal actions and help campaigners lobby for the changes that are so desperately needed. Property118 readers, or particularly those with interests in property investment and management, will understand the far-reaching implications of this crisis. Whether you are directly affected or simply wish to stand in solidarity, your contribution can make a significant difference.

How You Can Help

  1. Donate to the Crowdfunding Campaign: Every contribution, big or small, helps move the fight forward >> Please visit the Crowdfunding here and make your donation.
  2. Share the Website and Campaign: Spread the word within the property community and beyond. The more visibility this issue receives, the greater the pressure on decision-makers to act.
  3. Join the Campaign: If you or someone you know is affected, share your story on CladdingScandal.co.uk.

The property community has the power to help drive this change. 

Visit CladdingScandal.co.uk to learn more, support the campaign, and help ensure that no leaseholder is left to face this crisis alone.


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Comments

Charles Dee

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12:50 PM, 3rd October 2024, About 2 months ago

The Grenfell Tower tragedy has hit home for many of us, exposing a deep crisis in the UK property market. Countless leaseholders find themselves trapped in unsafe buildings, unable to sell or remortgage, and feeling the financial strain. I can't help but feel for those affected, as the government’s slow response to the cladding issue has left lives on hold for far too long.

The Cladding Scandal Campaign is stepping up to give these individuals a voice and drive meaningful change. If you resonate with this struggle, consider donating or sharing your story. Your support can truly make a difference for those who need it most.

Cider Drinker

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19:25 PM, 3rd October 2024, About 2 months ago

For me, the cladding scandal is similar to the Post Office scandal - just more deadly.

Since Grenfell (and probably before), government has known that THEIR procedures to protect the public have been flawed. Just as they knew Horizon was flawed when they were happily sending sub-postmasters to prison (and sub-postmistresses).

our elected politicians chose not to fix the cladding problem for the same reasons that they chose not to accept that Horizon was a problem.

Money.

Loss of face.

Edwin Cowper

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13:33 PM, 5th October 2024, About 2 months ago

I'm sorry to say Mark Alexander and Cider Drinker seem to misunderstand how this problem happened

The manufacturers of the cladding failed to take manufacture fireproof cladding. The building regulations set certain standard. The cladding was specified to builders and others as appropriate.

No fault by them. How would they have known or even suspected there was a problem?

Then Grenfell. The cladding was found to be defective on many other properties, causing, as Mark says, inability to sell.

Michael Gove decides that the liability cannot rest with purchasers from builders. Easy. Move it on to the developers. Job done. To make that effective he decides on an Act which retrospectively imposes on builders huge financial obligations.

Mr Gove says: Job doubly done. Except it wasn't. Because although the big boys in building stumped up because they had billions of turnover and assets.

The little people hadn't. They claimed on their insurance and that of their advisers. The insurers refused to pay. The builders went bust.

They could not continue to trade because, with the claims against them they would possibly be trading whilst insolvent. So no money paid out. So no cladding replaced

True Example. Builder gets contract from university to build block of student accommodation. It is on a design and build basis. Builder subcontracts of course to agent who has insurance to specify materials. Agent does that. Build goes ahead normally. The cladding appears to comply with building regulations. Then Grenfell. Then although material was compliant with then BRs retrospectively - OVER 20 YEARS in some cases - the builder and agent became liable to pay for re-cladding.

Of course the builders insurers and the agents insurers wouldn't pay. Both went bust, in one case destroying a busines which had been built up for over 40 years!

Result: the client has a building it can't use and no money to replace the cladding

Nice one, Michael.

In theory all Michael had to do was pass the buck. But the buck didn't pass. All we've got is loads of people in flats who can't sell them

Of course they can't deal with this. But should it stop with the taxpayer? Ordinary small people who pay their tax?

Any answers please Mark?

Edwin Cowper

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13:35 PM, 5th October 2024, About 2 months ago

There is one remedy of course. Make the insurers liable retrospectively. Why not? They would scream the house down. But why not?

Steve Day

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16:30 PM, 6th October 2024, About 2 months ago

The Earl of Lytton has consumer protection for blocks of flats without needing to take people to court legislation coming back to the Lords shortly.

It will ensure all cladding and non cladding costs are covered historically and ongoing.

Read more here buildingsafetyscheme.org please write to him if you support lyttonj@parliament.uk

Dylan Morris

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21:33 PM, 2nd December 2024, About 4 days ago

Under Michael Gove’s Building Safety Act if you’re a BTL landlord you have to pay for the cladding repairs yourself….. not the developer or the Gov’t they get off scot free !!

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