A Growing Crisis: Cladding and Rendered Insulation

As if residents living in blocks with flammable cladding didn’t have enough to worry about, rendered insulation is now being identified as a major fire risk. While the second phase of the Grenfell Inquiry continues, more than 20,000 households remain stuck in flats with dangerous cladding. Now, new evidence suggests rendered insulation on blocks of flats could pose an even bigger problem.

Alarming New Findings from Fire Safety Tests

David Westgate, group chief executive at Andrews Property Group, raised concerns after fire safety tests were conducted at one of its blocks. "We have just learned that a housing block in the South West has failed fire safety tests due to rendered insulation and are currently informing the residents," he told Landlord Today. This will undoubtedly cause huge distress for leaseholders, making it even harder to secure mortgages or sell their homes.

Calls for Government Funding to Cover Rendered Insulation

Westgate is urging the Government to ensure that any additional funding announced in the upcoming Budget applies not only to cladding but also to rendered insulation. Without financial support, thousands more leaseholders may find themselves trapped in unsafe homes—unable to move or remortgage.

Pressure from the Property Industry and Leaseholder Campaigners

New Chancellor Rishi Sunak is already facing mounting pressure from:

• The property industry
• Leaseholder campaign groups
• Freeholders and industry bodies

In February, over 100 campaigners and politicians gathered outside Parliament, demanding that the Government put an end to the cladding scandal. Their protests followed a meeting with Secretary of State for Housing, Robert Jenrick earlier that month.

Cladding is Just One Part of the Problem

With this new evidence that fire safety issues go beyond cladding, there is hope that the Government will take stronger action. Leaseholders are pinning their hopes on Sunak’s first Budget—but will the Government step up and provide real solutions?

Will the Coronavirus Crisis Push Cladding Off the Agenda?

Unfortunately, attention has now shifted to the Coronavirus pandemic, which may push cladding safety measures further down the Government’s list of priorities. For leaseholders, the question remains: Will the Government act, or will they be left waiting once again?