“Cladding victim shouldn’t have to pay a dime”: Michael Gove plans to end the requirement for leaseholders not to cover fire-trap home safety costs

  • Michael Gove said leaseholders shouldn’t pay for replacing fire-risk cladding 
  • Yesterday night the Housing Secretary apparently made a significant concession
  • Gove wants to eliminate the obligation for leaseholders to pay.










Michael Gove, in what appeared to be a major concession last night, stated that leaseholders shouldn’t have to contribute a dime towards replacing fire-riskcladding.

According to the Housing Secretary, he plans to scrap the requirement that thousands of tenants take out loans to cover the costs of building safe.

Mr Gove told MPs he had put this idea – the brainchild of his predecessor Robert Jenrick – on hold and hoped to bring new proposals forward in time for Christmas.

Appearing before the Commons housing committee yesterday, Michael Gove confirmed he would ‘pause’ plans that would see leaseholders take out loans to pay for remediation work

Appearing before the Commons housing committee yesterday, Michael Gove confirmed he would ‘pause’ plans that would see leaseholders take out loans to pay for remediation work

Mr Jenrick’s scheme aims to put a cap on some costs – but still leaves many owners facing big bills.

Mr Gove said: ‘I’m still unhappy with the principle of leaseholders having to pay at all, no matter how effective a scheme might be in capping their costs or not hitting them too hard at any one time.

‘My question is why do they have to pay at all?’

After the Grenfell Inferno which left 72 victims in West London, June 2017 and more than 1 million homes without power, safety measures were instituted to ensure that no one can sell or remortgage their properties.

Leaseholders can face average costs of £40,000 each – and some up to £115,000 – to replace dangerous cladding and other defects highlighted when inspections are carried out.

Mr Gove’s comments point to a victory for the Daily Mail, which has campaigned for ministers to make homes safe and spare leaseholders the cost.

More than a million home-owners have been left unable to sell or remortgage their flats since safety checks were ushered in after the Grenfell inferno, which killed 72 people in June 2017

Since the Grenfell fire, which claimed 72 lives in June 2017, safety checks have prevented more than one million homeowners from being able to sell their homes or remortgage them.

The Mail’s five-point manifesto makes clear that the firms responsible should be made to pay their fair share.

Last night, campaigners said they were ‘cautiously optimistic’ over Mr Gove’s suggestion.

Mr Jenrick’s plans would have seen those in blocks of fewer than six storeys or 18 metres taking out hefty loans to pay for the cost of ‘remediation’ of cladding problems.

All flat leaseholders will be required to pay thousands for any fire-risk defect discovered in cladding checks.

Rethink your house target 

Michael Gove has said he is reviewing housing targets that have faced fierce criticism from Tory MPs – and angered voters.

The Housing Secretary is looking at how the need for new developments is calculated, fearing it is based on out-of-date assumptions, and will examine whether planners can deploy targets ‘in a more sophisticated way’.

He stated that he wants communities to have the ability to refuse large development if it is located in rural protected areas.

Appearing before the Commons housing committee yesterday, Mr Gove confirmed he would ‘pause’ plans that would see leaseholders take out loans to pay for remediation work.

He said: ‘We have a responsibility to relieve some of the obligations faced by leaseholders, who are innocent parties in this and who are being in many circumstances asked to pay disproportionate sums when there are individuals in business who are guilty men and women.’

The Housing Secretary said leaseholders faced ‘an excessive burden’ and he wanted to see ‘the right people’ paying for remedial action.

He also criticised expensive warden schemes which residents are being forced to pay, saying: ‘There have been some individuals and organisations who have seen an opportunity to make money for themselves.’

Robert Jenrick’s plans would have seen those in blocks of fewer than six storeys or 18 metres taking out hefty loans to pay for the cost of ‘remediation’ of cladding problems

Robert Jenrick’s plans would have seen those in blocks of fewer than six storeys or 18 metres taking out hefty loans to pay for the cost of ‘remediation’ of cladding problems

Herr Gove stated that he was looking at the entire loan scheme as well as other elements of reforms introduced earlier this year in Mr Jenrick’s presentation.

He said he wanted to find if there was a ‘better way to deal’ with the issue rather than making leaseholders pay, but added: ‘It may be that I come back and say, “I’ve tried but I fear for these reasons it’s difficult”.’

Clive Betts asked Gove whether support was available to address fire safety concerns other than cladding. He replied that this is his intention.

Last night Giles Grover, from pressure group End our Cladding Scandal, said he was ‘cautiously optimistic’.

But he added: ‘There have been four different secretaries of state in as many years, with Mr Gove’s predecessors all having broken promises that the innocent homeowner will not be held liable for the failings of others.’

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