Building Safety Crisis

Hina Bokhari AM moved, and Caroline Pidgeon MBE AM seconded the following altered motion:

“This Assembly recognises the significant financial and health impacts of the building safety crisis on thousands of Londoners.  

Whilst this Assembly welcomes the £1.6 billion in funding packages made available by government for buildings with dangerous cladding to date, the size and scope of the funding is wholly insufficient to deal with the scale of the building safety crisis and leaves many facing extortionate bills and serious health problems, all while living in potentially dangerous homes.  

This Assembly re-affirms its call that the UK Government must do more to ensure that innocent leaseholders do not pay the costs related to the building safety crisis and that all buildings impacted by the scandal can have remediation work completed as soon as possible. 

As well as lobbying the Government, this Assembly urges the Mayor to go further and where possible implement, following consultation with the London Fire Brigade, the following steps to support leaseholders impacted by the building safety crisis in London: 

• implement a clear policy of not working with or funding developers or housing associations that have not taken action to support leaseholders in existing stock they own or have built; 

• establishing a fire safety victims support hub, which would provide both mental health and practical advice to leaseholders affected by the cladding and fire safety crisis in London; 

• trial a public fire safety risk assessment register in London for residential properties, like those used for Energy Performance Certificates, so that prospective buyers or renters can see the fire safety rating of any potential home; and 

• take every step to ensure applicants to both the Building Safety Fund and the Waking Watch Relief Fund hear back from the GLA regarding their applications as soon as practicable.” 

Following debate and upon being put to a vote, the altered motion was agreed (14 votes in favour and 0 votes against).