• About
    • Ethics policy
    • Privacy Policy
    • Ownership, funding and corrections
    • Complaints procedure
    • Terms & Conditions
  • Contact
  • Support
  • Newsletter
Brighton and Hove News
10 June, 2023
  • News
    • Politics
    • Business
    • Opinion
    • Community
  • Music
  • Theatre
  • Sport
    • Brighton and Hove Albion
    • Cricket
  • Newsletter
  • Public notices
  • Advertise
No Result
View All Result
  • News
    • Politics
    • Business
    • Opinion
    • Community
  • Music
  • Theatre
  • Sport
    • Brighton and Hove Albion
    • Cricket
  • Newsletter
  • Public notices
  • Advertise
No Result
View All Result
Brighton and Hove News
No Result
View All Result
Home Brighton

Flat owners ‘trapped’ by cladding red tape

by Jo Wadsworth
Friday Nov 20, 20 at 2:13PM
A A
5
Residents who lost their home in shock but overwhelmed by community response

The aftermath of a blaze at a block of flats in Pankhurst Avenue, Brighton, which spread along timber balconies and cladding. By @OBDroning on Twitter

The aftermath of a blaze at a block of flats in Pankhurst Avenue, Brighton, which spread along timber balconies and cladding. By @OBDroning on Twitter

New regulations brought in to improve fire safety after the Grenfell fire have inadvertently left flat owners trapped in near-unsellable homes.

After the Grenfell tragedy in June 2017, new rules were implemented by the bodies representing banks and surveyors in a bid to ensure houses being sold were safe.

From December 2019, mortgages for flats in buildings higher than 18m would only be approved if they had passed an External Wall Fire Review (EWS1) survey.

However, the following month the government published revised fire safety guidance which said potentially dangerous cladding – or combustible balconies – on all blocks, not just high rises, should be removed.

This followed several fires – including one in Pankhurst Road, Brighton – in which fires had rapidly spread across timber balconies.

The government guidance has led many mortgage companies to now require EWS1 certificates on flats in any sized building, with any combustible material on the external walls.

Meanwhile, it’s feared leaseholders in blocks which have failed the ESW1 surveys could now face eyewatering bills for remedial work.

The increasing requirement for ESW1 certificates has left many flat owners unable to sell their homes.

One flat owner, who asked not to be named as his one-bedroom flat in a block less than 18m tall is still on the market, said although some mortgage lenders are willing to lend, it is discouraging people from putting in offers.

He said: “I’ve been at the flat for three years. I have been happy here but I want to move on now.

“I feel stuck. It’s not good for your mental health, feeling trapped in your own home. All my money is tied up in this building.

“I just want to move somewhere bigger but I know people who are in my block who need to move because they have got kids.

“There’s this dark area with mortgage lenders. A lot of them have just applied a blanket approach for this certificate and they’re asking for it regardless even if you can prove what the cladding is.

“Some people in my block have managed to sell to people with mortgages so it’s not every mortgage lender but a majority of them.

“Someone in my block had to do take a lower offer from a cash buyer – about £10,000 lower.

“I wrote to Caroline Lucas, and she wrote to the people who own the building and they have written back and said that they will be conducting surveys but because our block is under 18 metres it won’t necessarily mean it will get one of these forms because they’re for blocks over 18 metres.

“The Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government wrote back and said they’re working with mortgage lenders to agree another approach and they know people are stuck and it’s distressing.

“But they say this isn’t a government regulatory requirement and the government aren’t saying the buildings have to have it.”

Many of Brighton and Hove’s blocks are owned by housing associations, such as Southern Housing. Although Southern only has one block in the city over 18m, a brick building which has an EWS1 certificate, it says it is aware of leaseholders who have been affected by this.

A spokesman for Southern said: “Although the government has been clear that EWS1 forms (which are used to provide evidence to mortgage lenders that the external wall system of buildings over 18m comply with government guidelines) are not a statutory requirement, we have seen many instances of lenders requiring residents to produce them when they are not appropriate – for example where a building is under 18m in height.

“We know that the government is urging lenders not to do this but the consequence of this continued practice is that many residents are not able to sell or re-mortgage which causes delay and hardship in many instances.

“The safety and wellbeing of our residents is our first priority and we will continue to work with residents to support them depending in their individual needs.”

Guinness, which owns the Pankhurst block which went up in flames, and two others next to it, said it did not own any buildings over 18m in Brighton and Hove.

Caroline Lucas said: “It’s clear that a review of fire safety in many residential properties is needed following decades of regulation being watered down, and other factors including the privatisation of the building inspector processes creating some further questions about the independence of decision-making with some developments.

“The Pankhurst fire raised issues such as many buildings falling outside of the high-rise category of the some of the legislation, and issuing guidance to housing providers, rather than clear requirements to act, is problematic on many levels – such as the impact on leaseholders when they come to sell.”

David Beaken, president of the Brighton and Hove Estate Agents Association said: “There is too much ambiguity around the situation and this is what is causing the problems.

“There doesn’t seem to be clear guidance for home owners or estate agents in terms of what does or doesn’t need an EWS1 form. Therefor it appears that both surveys and lenders seem to be covering themselves and flagging certain properties as potential problems.

“The knock on effect is that it can leave a seller needing to produce an EWS1 form purely to tick a box rather than because there is a specific issue which needs addressing.

“This is leading to huge expense in some circumstance and it can potentially leave people with properties which could be difficult to sell.

“Keeping people safe has to be the top priority but as an industry we would certainly like clear guidance and process around what is required in which circumstances.”

ShareTweetShareSendSendShare

Comments 5

  1. Rob Heale says:
    3 years ago

    The Government should have enforced strict fire regulation on Developers and Local Councils in the first place. In addition, insufficient control is given to Long-Leaseholders and Tenants over buildings. The people living in the buildings must have an important say!

    Reply
  2. Daniel Harris says:
    3 years ago

    Who should be liable though for costs the resident / lease holder or the freeholder?

    I heard pankhurst are Guinness Trust Flats?

    It would be good to know how many other blocks in the city the Guinness Trust could have issues with, also other providers.

    Reply
  3. Andy Turner says:
    3 years ago

    We have a waking watch in place at Embankment House, BN1. Hyde Housing informed us several weeks ago the EWS is both non-compliant and combustible – numerous residents have tried to obtain further information from both Hyde and East Sussex Fire Service without success.

    Reply
  4. Nela says:
    3 years ago

    We are prisoners of our own properties in here at Embankment and Temple House (both owned by Hyde). Not only we have been let astray sine August with no clear answers ( or rather no answers what so ever) but also Hyde is planning on recovering the cost from the flat owners, I.e. us!!

    Reply
  5. Frances Ruocco says:
    3 years ago

    I also reside at Embankment House, like Andy. Hyde have identified a real fire risk at our homes and have put a ‘waking watch’ in place. other than that we have been told nothing at all. Hyde have dodged all requests for further information and even meetings with residents. we are living in a ticking time bomb

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Most read

Sinkhole opens up in The Lanes

Seafront café can be rebuilt with indoor seating

Montreal Arms scaffolding comes down

Brighton car park can be turned into floodlit all-weather football pitches

Councillors to visit bowls club before deciding revamp plan

Large blaze breaks out in Brighton

Brighton police seize 1kg of cocaine at campsite

With reluctance, we had to cancel Brighton Carnival, says council chief

Brighton i360 given permission for shipping containers to host virtual cricket

Modern classrooms to replace old huts at college in Brighton

Arts and Culture

  • All
  • Music
  • Theatre
Xiu Xiu transfix Brighton gig goers

Xiu Xiu transfix Brighton gig goers

10 June 2023
Discovering new music talent in Brighton

Discovering new music talent in Brighton

10 June 2023
‘LaLaLa It’s The Good Life’ for Audiobooks – Brighton gig report

‘LaLaLa It’s The Good Life’ for Audiobooks – Brighton gig report

9 June 2023
Glastonwick festival review

Glastonwick festival review

8 June 2023
Load More

Sport

  • All
  • Brighton and Hove Albion
  • Cricket
Southern Vipers thrash Thunder by eight wickets at Hove

Stormy weather halts Charlotte Edwards Cup final

by Alex Smith
10 June 2023
0

The Blaze 53-4 after 9.3 overs – Play suspended Southern Vipers and the Blaze will have to come back on...

Southern Vipers thrash Thunder by eight wickets at Hove

Southern Vipers make Charlotte Edwards Cup final with win over Thunder

by Alex Smith
10 June 2023
0

Southern Vipers 191-6 beat Thunder 173-8 by 18 runs Danni Wyatt and Maia Bouchier smashed explosive fifties to set the...

Bruce on the Boundary – Robinson ready to take the next step

Bruce on the Boundary: Sussex face a challenging spell all round

by Bruce Talbot
10 June 2023
0

In a schedule that hasn’t made sense for years, it comes as no surprise that smack bang in the middle...

Sussex Sharks open T20 Blast with a win

Surrey demolish Sussex Sharks in T20 Blast at Hove

by Will Symons
9 June 2023
0

Sussex 134 all out Surrey 258-6 Surrey win by 124 runs In a commanding batting display, Surrey hit their highest...

Load More
November 2020
M T W T F S S
 1
2345678
9101112131415
16171819202122
23242526272829
30  
« Oct   Dec »
ADVERTISEMENT
  • About
  • Contact
  • Support
  • Newsletter
  • Privacy
  • Complaints
  • Ownership, funding and corrections
  • Ethics
  • T&C

© 2023 Brighton and Hove News

No Result
View All Result
  • News
    • Opinion
  • Arts and culture
    • Theatre
  • Sport
    • Cricket
  • Newsletter
  • Public notices
  • Advertise
  • About
  • Contact

© 2023 Brighton and Hove News

This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.