600,000 People Still Trapped In ‘Unsafe’ Tower Blocks

New analysis from the Labour Party suggests up to 600,000 people across England face being trapped in unsafe or unsellable high-rise properties due to unclear guidance over cladding safety. As reported by 24housing, yesterday’s report on Phase 1 of the Grenfell Inquiry revealed “compelling evidence” of the tower being too dangerous to live in – with the principle reason of the rapid flames being that the ACM panels acted as a source of fuel. Inquiry chair Sir Martin Moore-Bick said the external walls of the Tower – the focal point of the refurbishment work – failed to comply with building regulations. Read more on 24housing.

https://www.24housing.co.uk/news/600000-people-still-trapped-in-unsafe-tower-blocks/

One In 10 Forced To Report Same Problem With Their Social Home More Than 10 Times

Tenants of social rented homes are being failed “by poor regulation”. A study by YouGov for Shelter found that one in 10 had reported an issue with their home more than 10 times within the past three years, including electrical hazards, gas leaks and faulty lifts. The poll did not state whether the issues were subsequently addressed. According to Shelter, which worked with Grenfell survivors’ group Grenfell United for the study, over the two years since Grenfell an estimated 400,000 people (5%) could have encountered issues with fire safety. Read more on the Shelter website.

https://england.shelter.org.uk/media/press_releases/articles/one_in_10_forced_to_report_same_problem_with_their_social_home_more_than_10_times

Grenfell Tower: Unsafe Cladding 'Still Affects Thousands'

Thousands of people in England are still living in tower blocks with unsafe cladding more than a year after the Grenfell disaster. More than 400 high-rise residential buildings still have the same type of external covering blamed for the rapid spread of the deadly blaze, official figures show. BBC News found other buildings with different cladding also deemed unsafe. The government said building owners should make their properties safe. One of the tower blocks identified as still having Aluminium Composite Material (ACM) present in their structure is the 128-flat Skyline Apartments complex in Leeds city centre. Read more on the BBC website.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-46103414

MP Urges Help For Tower Block Leaseholders Facing Cladding Bill

Ministers have been urged to help residents of a Liverpool tower block who may be facing bills of £18,000 to replace unsafe cladding. Labour MP Louise Ellman said Heysmoor Heights' leaseholders must not be "abandoned" over fire safety work. There was legal uncertainty over who should fund the work, she said. Management company RMG said the block's freeholder had paid for the work in advance and it was hoped costs would be covered by building warranty insurance. Ms Ellman's statement follows Prime Minister Theresa May's pledge to fund the removal of dangerous cladding from tower blocks owned by councils and housing associations. Read more on the BBC website.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-merseyside-44152032

Hundreds Of Thousands Put Up With Unsafe Homes For Fear Of Eviction

A quarter of a million people are living in shoddy and unsafe homes without complaint for fear of being evicted, a new study has revealed. Research by Citizens Advice shows more than one-in-four private tenants who have experienced problems in England had not told their landlord in case they were hit with higher rents or notice to move. Repairs and maintenance were the most commons issues reported, including mould, electrical faults and pest infestations. Read more on the Huffington Post website.

https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/hundreds-of-thousands-put-up-with-unsafe-homes-for-fear-of-eviction-new-study-reveals_uk_5ad3349ee4b016a07e9d4e75

Three-Quarters Of All UK Social Housing Blocks Found To Be 'Potentially Unsafe In A Fire' In 2011 Report

A report from 2011 warned that almost three-quarters of UK social housing blocks were potentially unsafe in a fire. As speculation mounts as to the possible cause of the devastating Grenfell Tower fire in West London tenants of the 24-storey former council block have said they warned time and again that the building was a “catastrophic event” waiting to happen. Carried out when Grant Shapps was Housing Minister, the 2011 survey revealed that 75 per cent of managers responsible for maintaining social housing buildings were not certain their blocks had undergone a proper fire risk assessment. Read more on the Independent website.

Rogue Landlords Forcing Tenants Into A ‘Living Nightmare’

Private housing tenants from across income scales are living in unsafe homes that fail to meet basic legal standards, a new report has said. Rogue landlords are making billions of pounds from 700,000 private rented homes in England with a category 1 hazard, the worst kind of problems, which can include rat infestations, unsafe electrics, cold and damp. New evidence from Citizens Advice today shows people from across society are falling victim to unscrupulous landlords. The report Paying a High Price for a Faulty Product shows 30 per cent of households living in unsafe privately rented homes have an annual income of more than £30,000, with 18 per cent earning more than £40,000 a year. Read more on the Citizens Advice website.

A Nation of Renters

A new report explores how renting in England has changed in the past few decades with the number of households living in the private rental sector doubling in the last ten years. It also finds that over a million families are raising children in a privately rented home, treble the number a decade ago. The report also assesses the physical state of private rental properties in England and quantifies the true cost of privately rented homes. Finding that:

·         One in six privately rented homes in England (16 per cent) are physically unsafe

·         Half a million children are living in unsafe private rented homes.

·         These homes have Category 1 hazards which can include severe damp, excessive cold, rodent infestation and risk of falls.

·         Rogue landlords are receiving £5.6billion a year for unsafe homes, 1.3bn from housing benefit.

·         Private renters living in homes with a Category 1 hazard pay on average £157 per week on rent.

Download a copy of the report from the NPI website.

Half a Million Children Living In Unsafe Private Rented Homes

Rogue landlords are raking in £5.6billion a year for unsafe homes that fail to meet legal standards, a new report shows.  A Citizens Advice study reveals 740,000 households in England live in privately rented homes that present a severe threat to tenants' health. A Nation of Renters says these properties have category 1 hazards - the most serious of problems. These can include a host of dangers, such as: severe damp, rat infestations and risk of explosions. The latest available data shows these properties contain 510,000 children and 180,000 have a disabled person. Landlords are receiving £5.6bn a year on rent for homes with category 1 hazards, which includes £1.3bn of housing benefit. Read more on the Citizens Advice website.