Leeds Cladding Scandal: Consider the people involved, not just the buildings
Campaigners have written to the new Housing Secretary following reports that the crisis played a part in a Leeds man's death, after he took his own life
Last updated 6th Oct 2021
A Leaseholder in Leeds, is calling on government to find solutions for the people impacted by the cladding scandal, not just the buildings and companies.
Earlier this week, Campaigners wrote to the new Housing Secretary, Michael Gove following reports that the crisis played a part in a Leeds man's death, after he took his own life.
Rachael Loftus lives in a 7 storey building in Leeds, which has timber cladding on it.
She said:
"It really does feel like they only ever talk about this in the abstract, where as for me, I have to go to bed every night, knowing I live in a building, where if there's a fire, it'll be hard for me to escape, because the fire will spread so fast.
"What is universal amongst all of us is the stress, the oppression of not being in charge of our own destinies."
"Living with that constant strain is hard enough in itself, but for people who've got other issues going on in their lives, relationship, jobs, all of those other things, this is an additional strain.
"Their physical health has been impacted, their mental health has been impacted. But also this lack of control that we can do anything for ourselves in all of this, we are so dependent on government.
"What is universal amongst all of us is the stress, the oppression of not being in charge of our own destinies. We don't get to make the decisions, we're just impacted by them."
Leeds MP Hilary Benn has been campaigning on the issue, alongside Leeds Cladding scandal.
"If you bought a car or a toaster that was found to be a fire risk, what would you think if the car manufacturer or the maker of the toaster said, well sorry you're going to have to fix it?"
He said:
"It's causing acute pressure, destress, people worry about becoming bankrupt. Now in some jobs if you're made bankrupt, that's the end of you career, just imagine living with that every single day.
"If you bought a car or a toaster that was found to be a fire risk, what would you think if the car manufacturer or the maker of the toaster said, well sorry you're going to have to fix it?"
A government spokesperson said:
“We are spending over £5 billion to fund the replacement of unsafe cladding in the highest risk buildings and are making the biggest improvements to building safety in a generation.
“We’ve been clear throughout that owners and industry should make buildings safe without passing on costs to leaseholders – and our new measures will introduce a legal requirement for owners of high-rise buildings to prove they have tried all routes to cover the cost of essential safety works.
“Alongside this, our ambitious leasehold reforms will benefit millions of homeowners by ending unfair practices in the leasehold market and delivering on our commitment to set ground rents to zero on new leases.”