Residents in fear of another Grenfell told to drop legal action or face bill for fire wardens

RESIDENTS in tower blocks with Grenfell-style cladding have been threatened by a developer to drop their legal action or be forced to pay for fire wardens.

Leaseholders of flats in the 11-block New Capital Quay development in London, thought to be the largest site in the UK with Grenfell-style cladding, launched a group legal claim earlier this year against Galliard Homes and the freeholder Roamquest over the fire safety defects in their homes.

Shortly after the Grenfell Tower fire in June 2017, in which 72 people died, residents at New Capital Quay discovered their blocks were wrapped in the same composite cladding. Since 2017, a 24-hour waking watch of fire wardens has been in place because the cladding is yet to be removed.

Residents have been told that if they continue with their action, Galliard Homes will seek to charge them part of the cost of the watch not being covered by insurers, the National House Building Council (NHBC), understood to be around £1.2milion.

The Telegraph has seen messages between the leaseholders and their local Labour MP Matthew Pennycook, in which he told the residents that Galliard Homes chief executive Don O’Sullivan said that if residents did not drop their legal claim the developer would be forced to “seek recovery of the costs of the waking watch for the pre-NHBC claim period via a tribunal”.

Mr Pennycook added: “My assumption is that … the costs would be apportioned among all leaseholders.”

The Government has urged developers not to charge leaseholders for any fire safety work required.

Leaseholder Harry Howe said: “Residents are angry at Galliard.”

Residents have also questioned why Mr Pennycook is passing on messages from Galliard Homes without seeming to challenge the major developer’s position.

Mr Howe said: “He’s ended up acting as a mouthpiece for Galliard. Some residents are unsure as to whose interests he is representing here.”

The Telegraph approached Galliard Homes and Mr Pennycook but they both declined to comment.