EXCLUSIVE: Investigation reveals renters may be shown flats in highly flammable buildings and not even know it

We can exclusively reveal that people looking to rent flats may not be told about current fire safety issues in the block they would be renting in.

We went undercover to view flats across Leeds in blocks already identified by authorities to be covered in flammable Grenfell-style cladding.

Out of three viewings in three different blocks, two agents told us there were ongoing cladding issues being looked into only after we asked them about fire safety and the third did not mention cladding at all.

Currently there are ten blocks in Leeds that were identified to West Yorkshire Fire Service as having unsafe cladding.

The fire service gave these blocks until January 10th to provide satisfactory information detailing how and when this cladding would be removed.

While all blocks responded by that date, only two provided enough information to satisfy the service.

As a result flat owners in many of the eight remaining blocks are now paying hundreds of pounds a month on top of their mortgage and service charge payments to cover the cost of a waking watch.

A waking watch is a twenty four hour security guard to watch the building in case of a fire and the only alternative to satisfy the fire service while the cladding issues are ongoing.

Because of just how quickly a fire could spread around the building, it is their job to be on constant alert.

As a result of the fire safety problems, flat owners across Leeds and the rest of the country are now trapped in buildings that are technically worth nothing because mortgage lenders will not lend on them until the cladding is removed.

However, many of these flats are still on the rental market.

While there are no financial implications for renters, it is a letting agent's responsibility to inform renters of any information relevant to the flat, including fire safety.

The Property Ombudsman told us that section 7 of the Code of Practice for Residential Letting Agents states:

"All material information must be disclosed and there must be no material omissions which may impact on the average consumer’s transactional decision and where information is given to tenants or their representatives, it is accurate and not misleading.

"In particular you must accurately describe whether the property is being let as furnished, part furnished or unfurnished and whether facilities are shared so that tenants are not misled as to what fixtures, fittings etc will be included. You must be diligent in compiling the particulars."

So any information which could affect someone's decision to rent a property or ongoing issues with the flat should be disclosed during the viewing.

However, on two out of three of the flat viewings, we were only told there were issues with cladding after asking for the fire safety information right at the and of the viewing.

One agent did disclose the fact there was a twenty-four hour waking watch while the other said:

"They've got the procedure here where if the fire alarm goes off everyone just evacuates, it's just easier.

"It's just the cladding I'd need to double check, these ones (flats) I'm not sure but they might be ok, but they're investigating at the moment."

The third viewing did not disclose any information about cladding whatsoever.

When asked about the fire routes and fire safety the agent replied: "In all honesty I don't really know what the process would be.

"I mean it's clearly here (referring to an evacuation route plan left on the side in the flat.)

"Oh I think it's just showing you the fire features so the fire safety features."

When leaving the building there was a chair under the stairs which had a coat on the back, a klaxon horn at the side of it and evidence of food and drinks wrappers.

It seemed to be very clearly where the waking watch for the building was positioned.

But when asked what it was, the agent replied: "I'm not really sure to be honest...oh I think it might be a security guard."

Since the Grenfell Tower fire in 2017, in which 72 people died, cladding has become a national concern.

Highly flammable "aluminium composite material" (ACM) cladding spread the Grenfell fire at shocking speed.

Since then, the government has set aside a £600m fund to remove this dangerous cladding off both council and privately owned residential blocks.

But high-pressure laminate (HPL) cladding, which has been found to be just as combustible as ACM, is not currently covered by the fund. The buildings we viewed are covered by HPL or other flammable materials.

So leaseholders, freeholders and the local authorities are currently trapped, as the government currently has no clear explanation on what action it plans to take in connection with buildings covered in other forms of combustible cladding.

Leeds Central MP Hilary Benn recently led a debate in Westminster where thirty MPs highlighted the crisis and called on the Government to act.

But until that happens, it is uncertain how long these buildings will remain covered in flammable cladding and how long people might unknowingly rent flats in highly dangerous buildings.