One of the effects of coronavirus is that many other serious issues the country is facing are relegated to the middle pages of our newspapers.
In normal times, the challenges around cladding that have become apparent since the horrific Grenfell Tower tragedy would be the top of every bulletin and the cover of every newspaper, but not so at the moment.
This calamity is not receiving the attention it deserves. However, it is certainly receiving my attention, as many people in Romford are affected by this desperate situation and I am taking up their cause.
Leaseholders, who bought their properties in good faith, are finding themselves unable to sell their property, due to an inability to acquire the relevant EWS1 Certificate, and are faced with crippling costs to pay for remediation work. The government’s announcement of new funding on February10 was a positive step, but did not go far enough, as it only provided loans for those in buildings under 18 metres.
Fortunately, there is an answer. Two of my Conservative colleagues, Stephen McPartland MP and Royston Smith MP, have brought an amendment to the Fire Safety Bill currently going through parliament.
The amendment will protect leaseholders from historic costs related to fire safety, regardless of building height. I have added my name to this amendment, as a way to ensure that leaseholders will not have to bear the cost of these repairs under any circumstances.
The government must not delay on this any longer and I want to reassure my constituents: I am on your side!
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