Minister Says Building Safety Bill ‘Cannot Resolve’ Leaseholder Costs Issue

The newly published Building Safety Bill “cannot resolve” the issue of leaseholders facing huge costs for historic fire safety defects, a minister has said, directly contradicting previous government promises on the matter. Speaking at the Local Government Association annual conference, building safety minister Lord Greenhalgh said that while leaseholders are facing “very big bills” for “seriously shoddy work”, the Building Safety Bill is not the right mechanism to address it in full. The comments will infuriate leaseholders and campaigners who have previously been told by Lord Greenhalgh and colleagues that the new bill would be an opportunity to fix some of the issues. Read more on Inside Housing.

https://www.insidehousing.co.uk/news/news/minister-says-building-safety-bill-cannot-resolve-leaseholder-costs-issue-despite-previous-government-promises-71482 

Tory MP Brands Building Safety Bill A ‘Sticking Plaster’ That Won’t Help Leaseholders

 A backbench Conservative MP who has led attempts to prevent leaseholders from being hit by fire safety costs has slammed the government’s Building Safety Bill. Stephen McPartland, MP for Stevenage, strongly criticised the government’s proposals which include giving homeowners a retrospective right to sue for defective building work up to 15 years after the completion date. McPartland, said: “We know leaseholders don’t have the money to fund legal action and this is another sticking plaster instead of a solution.” McPartland said that instead the government must “provide a real safety net and fund making our buildings safe.” He said those responsible should be forced to pay through levies. Read more on the Housing Today website.

https://www.housingtoday.co.uk/news/tory-mp-brands-building-safety-bill-a-sticking-plaster-that-wont-help-leaseholders/5112618.article

New Regulator Introduced As Building Safety Bill Published

The Building Safety Bill, published 5 July, outlines the biggest changes to building safety regulation in a generation by introducing a Building Safety Regulator to oversee a new safety regime for high-rise residential homes in response to the Grenfell fire tragedy. By simplifying the system using a ‘golden thread’ of information to be created, stored and updated throughout the building’s development, the Bill will establish clear obligations on owners and enable swift action to be taken by the Regulator. Read more on the ARLA website.

https://www.propertymark.co.uk/resource/new-regulator-introduced-as-building-safety-bill-published.html

Rented Housing Laws "Not Fit For Purpose"

LAWS underpinning the private rented sector are not fit purpose as new research reveals that some date back to the 18^th century. According to the analysis, by the time the forthcoming Building Safety Bill is given royal assent, the number of statutory provisions applying to the sector in England will have risen by 40 per cent over the last decade to 168 pieces of legislation. This includes the Landlord and Tenant Act 1730 and the Distress for Rent Act 1737. The National Residential Landlords Association is warning that far from the private rented sector being under-regulated, the sheer number of laws means councils are unable to enforce them properly. Read more on the NRLA website.

https://www.nrla.org.uk/news/rented-housing-laws-not-fit-for-purpose-argue-landlords

Buildings: Safety – Parliamentary Written Answer

Jonathan Gullis: What steps his Department is taking to improve building safety.

Christopher Pincher: The Building Safety Bill announced in the Queen’s speech is a comprehensive piece of legislation which will bring about a once in a generation change to building safety, and will ensure that people, homes, and buildings are safer in future, and that the right people are held to account. It will introduce a new regulatory regime for high-rise buildings and for construction products and will drive the regulatory, cultural and behavioural changes needed to ensure people are safe in their homes and residents are at the heart of the new, robust system.

http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-question/Commons/2021-06-14/901099

One In Three Landlords Expects To Need At Least Two Years To Comply With Building Safety Bill

 A third of housing bosses expect their organisations will need more than two years to get up to speed with the Building Safety Bill’s requirements, while costs remain a major concern. A poll of social and private landlords representing a total of 1,048 high-rise buildings found that 33% thought it would take them more than 25 months to demonstrate compliance with all parts of the Bill. Respondents highlighted several issues with complying with the legislation, including its complexity, the absence of clarity, competing organisational priorities and the volume of high-rise buildings some would need to submit to the new regulator. Read more on Inside Housing.

https://www.insidehousing.co.uk/news/one-in-three-landlords-expects-to-need-at-least-two-years-to-comply-with-building-safety-bill-survey-finds-67884?utm_source=Housing60&utm_medium=email&utm_content=article_link&utm_campaign=H60