Flats residents refused cladding compensation
‘HEARTBROKEN’ residents of a Manchester tower block forced to take out loans to fix dangerous cladding will be unable to apply for financial help from the government.
A new £1bn fund for the removal of flammable materials will not support projects that have already started, such as the work being funded by leaseholders at Skyline Central 1.
But the loans were taken out in January – two months before the fund was announced by housing secretary Robert Jenrick.
Residents of the Ancoats highrise tweeted: “We’re not eligible to apply for the fund that was designed to help people like ourselves. This can’t be right.
“We are heartbroken and are once again petrified for our financial futures thanks to the decision to exclude us from the fund. It’s a desperate situation for us all.”
The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) says leaseholders might be able to seek ‘recourse through building owners through warranty or insurance claims.’
But those living at Skyline 1 say they have ‘been down the warranty route with no success.’
Rebecca Fairclough, a member of campaign group Manchester Cladiators who lives in another high-rise block with dangerous cladding, described the government’s stance as ‘ridiculous.’
“For the last year Robert Jenrick and the government has said that it’s the building owners’ job and that they need to get on with it but the owners have put the liability on us,” she said.
“The government pushed residents to go ahead with the work before this fund but now they’re saying they won’t help them.
“They were told that it was dangerous and now they’re not allowed to apply for any funding? It’s just ridiculous.
“They didn’t need to include that caveat and we need to ask the government if it can be removed.
“The £1bn is nowhere near enough to remediate all the work that’s required across the country anyway, and needs to be increased.”
Only a third of the 1,700 buildings that are caught up in the industrial cladding crisis would be covered by the fund, according to Salford city mayor Paul Dennett.
The first-come, first-serve basis for applications was also criticised, as was the ‘exceptionally small window’ for applications, which started yesterday and runs until July 31.
Speaking at a meeting of the Greater Manchester combined authority last week, Mr Dennett said: “The government has always maintained that residents and leaseholders shouldn’t bear the brunt of this crisis so part of this is about holding their feet to the fire over this.” Greater Manchester leaders agreed that Mr Dennett should write to the housing secretary and raise their concerns.
A spokesperson for MHCLG said: “We expect building owners to take immediate action to make their buildings safe and we have reached an agreement with local leaders so that this important work can continue safely during the pandemic.”