Credit: iStock – VictorHuang
Owners and landlords of the most unsafe high-rise blocks face possible legal action if they do not start remediation work on their properties in 2025.
Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner has written to those responsible for buildings more than 11m tall with unsafe cladding not yet removed, to say she expects them to begin rectifying the problem ‘as soon as possible’ next year.
She has also told those responsible for buildings with ACM cladding, such as that used on Grenfell Tower, that remediation work should start by 31 March.
In her letter of 2 December, Rayner says landlords and owners will be held to account if they do not take ‘all necessary action’ to remediate buildings ‘at pace’. This could include ‘direct legal action’ to recover the cost of such works.
The government has also published its Remediation Acceleration Plan, which sets a target for all 18m-plus buildings with unsafe cladding to have been fixed by the end of 2029.
By the same date, landlords of 11m-plus buildings with unsafe cladding will be liable for severe penalties unless their blocks have been remediated or have a completion date for works.
The plan also contains proposals to give councils, fire and rescue authorities, and the Building Safety Regulator ‘robust’ new powers to enforce remediation.
Proposed new legislation will create a ‘clear and legal’ duty on those responsible for buildings more than 11m high to take the necessary steps to fix their buildings within clear timescales. This would be backed up by ‘significant’ financial consequences for inaction and a new criminal offence for those who ultimately fail to remove unsafe cladding.
In addition, the government has said it will provide funding to local authorities to double enforcement activity. A remediation enforcement support fund will enable councils and fire and rescue authorities to secure access to specific legal advice and support for pursuing those responsible for fixing unsafe buildings, the plan says.
