Victory for Citiscape residents
20/04/2018 16:48:00.......Posted by Philip Smith
As a resident of the Citiscape building, it is very welcome news that Barratt Developments have been persuaded to pay for the fire safety related costs thus relieving Citiscape's leaseholders of the burden of paying and, most importantly, ensuring their homes will be made safe. This would not have happened without the huge collective efforts of everyone in the building, those leading the Residents’ Group and local representatives. I would personally like to thank them for their tireless campaigning and dedication. The other local Council candidates and I have been raising the issues of Citiscape safety with the Prime Minister’s Chief of Staff and the Secretary of State as we sought to achieve the right result for all concerned. We have been clear from the beginning that building owners in the private sector should not pass on the costs of essential cladding replacement to leaseholders. Labour representatives have called on the Government to fund the works using taxpayer money, ultimately still our money - we have always disagreed with this approach. As someone who lives in the building, I am well aware of the stress that this ordeal has caused. If elected to represent Fairfiedl on May 3rd I will continue to champion matters impacting the building namely intercom issues and lift work that continues to have an effect on residents. Thank you again for all those who worked to raise the profile on this issue, particularly to the Residents Association – it really wouldn’t have happened without them. BARRATT DEVELOPMENTS AGREE TO PAY FIRE SAFETY COSTS Housing Secretary, Sajid Javid, today (Thursday 19 April) welcomed the decision from property developers Barratt Developments to pay for fire safety related costs in a building they developed, relieving the building’s leaseholders of this burden and ensuring that the building will be made safe. Leaseholders living in the Citiscape development in Croydon were told at a residents’ meeting tonight (Thursday 19 April) of Barratt Developments’ decision. The company have said they will cover future and backdated costs relating to employing a fire warden and the removal and replacement of unsafe cladding from this building. Following the Grenfell Tower tragedy, Government acted swiftly to establish a comprehensive Building Safety Programme. This included identifying buildings with unsafe cladding and providing guidance to building owners. From the outset Sajid Javid has been clear that building owners in the private sector should follow the lead of the social housing sector and not pass on the costs of essential cladding replacement to leaseholders. Government has been in discussions with private sector landlords and developers directly, including Barratt Developments, regarding this matter. Sajid Javid, said: “I applaud Barratt Developments’ decision to cover the costs of fire safety works. They have listened to the concerns of Citiscape residents, engaged with Government and have done the right thing. “Other building owners and developers in the private sector should follow the example set by Barratt Developments to protect leaseholders from costs and begin essential fire safety works. I want to see all leaseholders in this position get the peace of mind they deserve and I am keeping this under review.”
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