Insurance hikes of as much as 800 per cent hit architects hard
Architects have called for a radical overhaul of the market for professional indemnity insurance (PII) as they grapple with soaring costs, increased paperwork and tighter restrictions on building specifications The AJ has spoken to a number of practices which have faced difficulties renewing this cover, which protects them against […] Click here to view original…
Work stopped on two thirds of cladding remediation projects
Work has restarted at 14% of projects Work has stopped on more than two thirds of the buildings where the remediation of ACM cladding is required, new government data has said. According to the housing ministry’s April building safety update , work was paused on 68% of projects at […] Click here to view original…
Birmingham tower block faces a bill increase from £43,000 to £500,000
Birmingham tower block faces a bill increase from £43,000 to £500,000 as official figures show removal of flammable material has all but stalled. […] Click here to view original web page
Over 25% of FSO prosecutions involve domestic premises
In his final article reviewing cases prosecuted under the Fire Safety Order, Fire Safety Lawyer Warren Spencer has revealed that over a quarter of all prosecutions brought under the order since 2009 involve an element of domestic living, despite the Order not being intended to apply to domestic premises. The impact of the Grenfell Tower…
Union slams deadly fire failings and cuts
Marking Firefighters Memorial Day last week (Pic: Mark Thomas and FBU) Firefighters have attacked the government and building owners as a parliamentary committee’s cladding survey highlighted widespread safety failings. The Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee last week published the findings of a survey into the progress of work […] Click here to view original…
A message of solidarity …
A message of solidarity, from all those affected by the cladding & fire safety scandal during COVID-19 …
Commons nods through Fire Safety Bill, amid plenty of grumbling by veteran MPs from all parties
Sir Mike Penning, Tory MP for Hemel Hempstead and a former fire minister, fumed at the Fire Safety Bill’s implications for leaseholders, who “should not have the burden, which is currently on them all the time, day in, day out” By Harry Scoffin The first new law on fire […] Click here to view original…
Competence and accreditation set to be major features in fire safety sector
ON THURSDAY 7 May, Dame Judith Hackitt joined David Frise (CEO at the Building Engineering Services Association) in the BESA webinar focused on the essential industry changes needed post-Grenfell. Dame Judith discussed the current landscape in relation to the Coronavirus pandemic and outlined a strong belief that competence and […] Click here to view original…
Northwich MP Mike Amesbury makes virtual Parliament appearance
Mike Amesbury makes his first appearance in the Commons via video link NORTHWICH MP Mike Amesbury used his first virtual appearance in the new ‘hybrid parliament’ to grill ministers about potentially lethal Grenfell-style cladding on homes. Due to social distancing measures, the House of Commons is operating with a […] Click here to view original…
Combustible cladding survey highlights ongoing issues in multi-occupancy buildings
As part of its inquiry into the progress of remediation, the Committee invited residents of multi-occupancy buildings to highlight ongoing issues where they live. The Committee received 1,352 responses that give an indication of the range of issues yet to be resolved and the impact this has had on […] Click here to view original…
Flat owners living lockdown in fear of fire and bankruptcy
Residents of the St George apartment building in Leeds Copyright: jpimedia First-time buyer Hayley Tillotson worked hard to achieve her ambition of owning her own home. The 28-year-old moved back in with her father for five years and saved until she had the deposit needed to buy her one-bedroom […] Click here to view original…
Residents in flat blocks with unsafe cladding still waiting for details on Government help scheme, MP says
Earlier this year the Government announced a new £1bn fund to pay for the removal and replacement of unsafe cladding for high-rise buildings. This was on top of £600m already pledged to remove the type of cladding which was on Grenfell Tower. Owners of flats in a dozen buildings […] Click here to view original…