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Undocumented Grenfell survivors could stay for five years
Undocumented Grenfell survivors could be allowed to stay in the UK for five more years, the government has announced.
Any survivor who was granted the 12-month amnesty initially promised by the government can now apply for five further years of residence in the country if they come forward before 30 November.
The aim is for survivors of the fire to have the necessary legal position to access any support they might need from the local authority or from central government.
The measure falls short of the solution demanded by Kensington and Chelsea Council, which voted on 19 July to call on the government to grant undocumented residents “a complete amnesty with permanent right to remain in the country”.
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Brandon Lewis, immigration minister, said: “Our initial response to this terrible tragedy was rightly focused on survivors’ immediate needs in the aftermath of the fire and ensuring they could access the services they need to start to rebuild their lives.
“However, since the Grenfell Tower immigration policy was announced, we have been planning for the future of those residents affected by these unprecedented events and listening to their feedback, as well as the views of [inquiry judge] Sir Martin Moore-Bick.”
“The government believes it is right to provide this specific group of survivors greater certainty over their long-term future in the UK, subject to their continued eligibility and the necessary security and criminality checks being met.”
The government also announced plans to ensure that the relatives of survivors are able to help their families, permitting them to remain in the UK for six months from their date of entry in order to provide support to survivors.
Never Again campaign
Inside Housing has launched a campaign to improve fire safety following the Grenfell Tower fire
Never Again: campaign asks
Inside Housing is calling for immediate action to implement the learning from the Lakanal House fire, and a commitment to act – without delay – on learning from the Grenfell Tower tragedy as it becomes available.
LANDLORDS
- Take immediate action to check cladding and external panels on tower blocks and take prompt, appropriate action to remedy any problems
- Update risk assessments using an appropriate, qualified expert.
- Commit to renewing assessments annually and after major repair or cladding work is carried out
- Review and update evacuation policies and ‘stay put’ advice in light of risk assessments, and communicate clearly to residents
GOVERNMENT
- Provide urgent advice on the installation and upkeep of external insulation
- Update and clarify building regulations immediately – with a commitment to update if additional learning emerges at a later date from the Grenfell inquiry
- Fund the retrofitting of sprinkler systems in all tower blocks across the UK (except where there are specific structural reasons not to do so)
We will submit evidence from our research to the Grenfell public inquiry.
The inquiry should look at why opportunities to implement learning that could have prevented the fire were missed, in order to ensure similar opportunities are acted on in the future.
