Why the law won’t help cladding leaseholders

February 16, 2021 // by Sebastian O'Kelly

This is the presentation given by Liam Spender, a commercial solicitor and leaseholder in a London cladding site, at the LKP public meeting on February 9 2021.

It explains why the law is of limited help in this crisis.

Government has compounded the cladding problem with its Advice Notes that have dragged in numerous sites under 18 metres which are very likely not at high risk.

But which professional is going to state that, with Grenfell on their minds and the risk of litigation if they call it wrong?

The result has been a cautious, highly expensive compliance regime, with officials and building professionals being very generous with leaseholders’ money to cover their compliance backsides.

Mr Spender also points out that freeholders and the professionals they employ will be remunerated handsomely for remediating the build defects in the UK’s badly built apartment blocks.

The presentation urges the adoption of the LKP cladding remediation fund proposal, to which Mr Spender contributed, which seeks to make those responsible for this disaster – the housebuilders, the cladding manufacturers – pay up.