Robert Jenrick, the Housing Secretary, has today announced that an extra £3.5bn will be used to remove cladding on high-rise buildings. And only on high-rise buildings above 18metres, and only on cladding, not other fire safety concerns.
As the risk was "significantly lower" on buildings below 18m, a new “long-term low-interest scheme” has been announced to remove cladding on those buildings between four and six storeys high, rather than using taxpayer funds, putting the costs squarely with leaseholders. With loan repayments capped at £50 per month.
“No leaseholder will ever pay more than £50 a month towards the removal of unsafe cladding, many far less,” Robert Jenrick said today.
The news was not well received, with Labour's shadow housing secretary, Thangam Debbonaire, calling the proposals "an injustice" that would "pile financial misery" on homeowners.
There are still questions that need to be answered about spiralling insurance costs – some rises as much as 1000%, tackling criminal service charges, and unsellable homes.