Stephen has formed the East Ham Cladding Working Group, which will meet fortnightly to discuss the latest developments around the cladding crisis in Newham and Westminster.
Following the Grenfell tragedy in 2017, the Building Safety Programme was established to ensure tenants and leaseholders are protected from unsafe cladding. However, nearly four years later, around 700,000 people are still living in high-rise blocks with flammable cladding. Several buildings in East Ham are affected, including within the Waterside Park and Upton Gardens developments, where dangerous cladding and insulation has been found on the high-rise buildings.
At the inaugural meeting of the group, Stephen explained how he is pressuring developers of affected buildings in East Ham to shoulder some responsibility for the removal of dangerous cladding, and address the costs of interim fire safety measures – such as waking watch. Stephen also gave an update on the situation in Westminster and the progress of the Fire Safety Bill, which returns to the Commons this week. MPs will have the chance to debate and vote on amendments to give leaseholders a guarantee that building owners cannot pass on the costs of any remedial work.
In addition, Stephen invited residents on the call to share their experiences and concerns on this issue. Many expressed their anxieties around living in unsafe housing, as well as the unforeseen costs associated with temporary safety measures. One leaseholder described feeling “powerless” and a “hostage” in their own home, as they have been unable to re-mortgage their flat with its current EWS1 rating.
Speaking at the meeting, Stephen said “I appreciate and sympathise with the cost and anxiety many leaseholders have endured due to issues for which they bear no fault.
I look forward to meeting fortnightly with local leaseholders in East Ham to give residents the chance to tell me what issues I should be raising with landlords and managing agents. There may also be opportunities to invite external speakers to address the group.
In the meantime, I will continue to call for reforms to the leasehold system and will push the Government to go further with the provisions laid out in the Fire Safety Bill. No one should have to endure the enormous anxiety this cladding is causing and the Government must act with urgency on this.”
If you are interested in joining the East Ham Cladding Working Group, please follow this link and complete the form. A member of Stephen’s office will be in touch with the joining details for the first meeting.