More than 35 of the UK’s biggest house builders have pledged to fix all of the unsafe buildings above 11 metres in height that they have built.
They have signed contracts with government to fix buildings as quickly as possible, regularly report to leaseholders and government on progress, and refund money already received from the taxpayer through the Building Safety Fund and other funds to fix aluminium composite material (ACM) cladding.
This will apply to issues that have arisen from design, construction, or refurbishment in all properties where they played a role in the developing or refurbishing in the 30 years prior to 5 April 2022.
The Government is also introducing new powers that could be enforced on a developer should they breach the agreement, as well as on any remaining companies who fail to sign up.
These new powers would allow the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities to block those who refuse to sign from building and selling new homes.
Responding to the announcement, Cllr David Renard, the LGA’s Housing Spokesperson, said: “We are pleased that the Government has listened to calls the LGA has been making for several years to protect leaseholders from the costs of two decades of industry failure.
“However, we call on the Government to provide the same protection to council tenants and council tax payers as it has afforded home owners, by exempting councils from the developer levy and funding the remediation of social housing on the same basis as private housing.”
