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Two-thirds of households in private high-rise blocks still wrapped in dangerous Grenfell-style cladding are in London, new figures show.
In a written response in parliament this week, housing minister Kit Malthouse revealed that of the 16,500 flats in privately owned residential towers that remain covered in unsafe aluminium composite material (ACM) cladding, an estimated 10,600 are in the capital.
Official statistics released yesterday showed that there are 164 private residential high rises still clad in ACM unlikely to comply with building regulations.
The figures came as the government announced plans for a £200m fund to help freeholders fix private blocks still wrapped in ACM cladding, similar to that used on Grenfell Tower.
The regional breakdown of figures came in a response to a question from Labour’s shadow housing minister Sarah Jones.
Ms Jones, who is also MP for Croydon Central, said: “These figures show the sheer scale of the cladding scandal here in London. More than 25,000 Londoners have lived in fear for almost two years while the government failed to act.
“Ministers must now back Labour’s calls for a clear deadline to make all blocks safe and tougher sanctions if building owners fail to get this work done.”
Labour estimates that the figures mean 25,000 Londoners are living in homes affected by the cladding scandal, and that around £130m of the new fund will need to be spent in the capital.
Another 2,000 affected flats are in the North West, with 2,000 more in Yorkshire and the Humber.
Around 900 are in the South East, 400 are in the South West, 300 are in the East of England and 200 are in the East Midlands.
Only 11 have finished removing and replacing the cladding, while 16 have started remediation.
Separately, of 158 social housing towers affected, 50 have completed remediation nearly a year after the government announced a £400m fund to pay for the work.
Ms Jones added: “It’s almost a year since a fund was provided for social housing blocks but the majority have still not been made safe. Progress is far too slow and the cladding scandal is far from over.”
Inside Housing is running a campaign, End Our Cladding Scandal, alongside affected leaseholders calling on the government to help affected residents living in private blocks with dangerous cladding.
Yesterday’s announcement of a £200m fund has been welcomed, but campaigners have said that a “cladding lottery” has effectively been created as residents in buildings with other forms of dangerous cladding remain at risk.
64.8% of residents say their mental health has been "hugely affected" by the ongoing crisis in their blocks
77.8% have experienced anxiety as a direct result of the crisis, while 23% have experienced depression and 65.8% have had difficulty sleeping
8.7% have experienced suicidal thoughts as a direct result of the cladding issues
66.3% have been told by surveyors that they cannot sell the properties
28.1% have been diagnosed with a health issue by a medical professional
86.2% have seen service charges go up, with 25% saying more than £200,000 has been spent on their blocks
25% feel they cannot start a family as a result of the issues
Source: UKCAG survey of 196 affected leaseholders and tenants in private blocks affected by cladding issues