High rise costs Fees of £60k
Sesame Apartments, Battersea
Business owners Susan King and Shirin Elling, both 54, bought a flat off-plan in 2014 and now face a bill of up to £60,000 for improvements.
The freehold is managed by a company owned by William Astor, David Cameron’s half brother-in-law, which has said it is not liable.
Both the freeholders and the residents in the 80 flats hope that insurers will foot the bill, but if not, the residents fear it will fall to them.
After a fire broke out above their flat, guards were hired for a “waking watch” and fire alarms put into flats.
Residents have been billed for the watch, but fear they will also be charged for an estimated £1.5million cost of replacing the cladding.
Ms King said: “The estimated cost per apartment was £60,000 which included cladding, watch, and installation of a temporary fire alarm.”