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Morning Briefing: leaseholders consider legal action over dangerous cladding
Leaseholders consider legal action over dangerous cladding, Labour’s plan to scrap affordable rent and new build homeowners report serious flaws in their homes
In the news
Leaseholders at New Capital Quay, in Greenwich, London who face large bills to replace dangerous cladding, are considering taking legal action against the developers, Galliard Homes, the BBC reports.
Labour’s plan to scrap affordable rent if it enters government has led the nationals. The Guardian reports a Labour government would “rip up the definition of affordable housing”, whilst the Huffington Post said the party would “redefine” affordable housing to help people on middle incomes buy their own home. Shadow housing secretary John Healey has explained more in a Guardian piece here.
You can read our story on the announcement here.
The Spectator has a comment piece asking whether the Grenfell Tower fire has put paid to the social housing ideal.
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The Times reports that homes built by Bovis are causing problems for hundreds of households, including bottles of urine found behind wall panels, pipes that do not properly drain away excrement and bouncing floorboards. A recent Shelter survey found more than half of new build homes have major faults.
A man appeared in court accused of fraud in connection with the Grenfell Tower fire, the BBC has a short report here.
Local news site Derry Now has an item about the impact of a lack of affordable housing in the Northern Irish town.
The Guardian is one of several publications to report on a recommendation from MPs that rogue landlords should have their properties confiscated by local councils.
On social media
Economist Noble Francis links house price increases with the Help to Buy scheme
House prices in England for new build & existing property with both rebased to 100 for when Help to Buy started.#ukhousing #housingt.co/ZHvNTI9HAq pic.twitter.com/wG96gHNirv
— Noble Francis (@NobleFrancis)House prices in England for new build & existing property with both rebased to 100 for when Help to Buy started.#ukhousing #housinghttps://t.co/ZHvNTI9HAq pic.twitter.com/wG96gHNirv
— Noble Francis (@NobleFrancis) April 17, 2018
What’s on
- Labour launches its social housing review this morning
- An adjournment debate in parliament will look at leaseholder liability for fire safety work in Battersea, after 10.30am. This follows the well-publicised case of the New Capital Quay development in Greenwich, where leaseholders face huge bills to replace dangerous cladding.
