Government warns landlords to check cladding or face enforcement action

The government’s response added that if owners do not assess the risk of “external wall structures”, the legislation will “affirm that enforcing authorities have the powers they need to take action”.

The new bill will also reinforce that fire officers can take action against building owners who have not removed aluminium composite material cladding, which was the type used on Grenfell Tower.

The response comes a day after housing secretary Robert Jenrick announced in parliament a series of new building safety measures, including a warning that he will name and shame owners of private buildings who have yet to start remediation work.

In the response today, the government said: “MHCLG officials will work with local authorities to support enforcement options if a clear plan for remediation is not provided by building owners by the end of this month.”

Building owners or managers will also be expected to carry out regular inspections of flat entrance doors.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government has also asked building owners to ensure that residents are “aware of the importance of maintaining the self-closing devices on all fire doors, including flat entrance doors”.

In his recommendations following the publication of the phase one report, inquiry chair Sir Martin Moore-Bick suggested that building owners check fire doors in their buildings every three months.

The government also confirmed that a steering group has been established to develop national guidelines for the evacuation of high-rise blocks and the controversial ‘stay put’ policy, as recommended in Sir Martin’s phase one report.

The group – which includes technical specialists, academics, fire chiefs and employee group representatives – met for the first time last month.

However, today’s response did not specifically mention personally developed evacuation plans for residents who would struggle to evacuate themselves, as recommended in the phase one report.

Phase two of the Grenfell Inquiry is due to start next Monday, when the focus will turn to the events and actions prior to the night of the fire.

The government acknowledged today that it will be “complex and inevitably take time”.

But it added: “We stand ready to assist the inquiry as it continues to get to the truth of what happened on this night and crucially understand why it happened.”

Ministers also vowed to “actively engage with those who have been personally affected by the tragedy and listen to their views on the changes made to building regulations and fire safety”.

Earlier this week, Grenfell survivors reportedly accused Boris Johnson of being “out of touch” with what they are experiencing. Mr Johnson met members of the Grenfell community at 10 Downing Street last week.