Essex group to take part in Cladding protests today
Many leaseholders affected by the cladding and building safety crisis are expected to gather at Parliament Square this afternoon
Essex Cladding Action Group, which campaign and support group for leaseholders affected by the cladding crisis, are expected to take part in a rally this afternoon to protest Government inaction in the issue.
The rally is being organised by 'End Our Cladding Crisis' campaign along with the National Leasehold Campaign (NLC) and charity Leasehold Knowledge Partnership.
Protestors will gather at Parliament Square today, in an attempt to urge MPs to pass key legislation that will exempt leaseholders from having to pay to fix fire-safety issues themselves. Many leaseholders are unaware of these costs when they acquire these houses, and they can rise to the tune of thousands of pounds.
Essex Cladding Action Group is a campaign partner of UK Cladding Action group. Zoe Bartley, from the Essex wing of the organisation, says their message to the Government is clear: "We've heard so many times from Government that leaseholders shouldn't have to pay and developers will have to do the right thing.
"They need to put their money where their mouth is and legislate to protect us because from the legal point of you, we are liable and there is nothing there to protect us".
In January 2020, Zoe and her family found that in order to sell their flat they would need a EWS 1 certificate. The certificate is one that confirms any external wall system, like cladding is fire-resistant. After six months of negotiating, she was finally able to get an inspection arranged.
The inspection revealed that their building failed the test. It was a fire-risk.
"Basically since August we've been waiting for the developers to come up with a design plan to remediate the various fire hazards that plague the building, but we've been told that we'll be asked to foot the bill", she says.
The protests will give people like Ms Bartley a chance to voice their frustrations with Government inaction over the issue so far. She hopes the turnout can convince MPs to take prompt action.
"I'm hoping that after seeing the number of people affected and the strength of feeling behind it, they will support the McPartland-Smith amendments to the fire-safety bill and protect us."
The Building Safety Bill, and along with it the McPartland-Smith amendments could offer leaseholders some respite but it still at the committee stage. If it passes both houses of Parliament, it will become a law only early next year, leaving affected leaseholders in limbo.
Ms. Bartley also believes that victims of the cladding scandal have been failed by Government and local authorities. " I think the taxpayer will unfortunately have to contribute some portion of compensation as well because Government regulations failed us. The construction industry cut corners for profit but regulators allowed them to get away with it."