Building safety is a vital issue for many Londoners and the London Assembly believes that leaseholders should be supported through the cladding crisis.
Today, the Assembly has called on the Mayor to deliver a new Building Safety Support Hub. This would offer specialist support to leaseholders and building owners so they can navigate their complex legal and financial situations.
Susan Hall AM, who proposed the motion, said:
“The Assembly proposed an inexpensive budget amendment to support leaseholders reeling from the inequalities in building safety.
“There was cross-party agreement, but sadly it was not universal and the amendment did not pass. The Mayor’s response to the Assembly’s failed amendment was that he didn’t want to further disappoint leaseholders as it didn’t go far enough.
“We therefore call on the Mayor to provide the necessary funding and support to leaseholders through the cladding crisis.”
Hina Bokhari AM, who seconded the motion, said:
“I have repeatedly pushed for a Building Safety Support Hub to provide practical and mental health support for leaseholders in London, with the Assembly’s backing.
“It is vital that the Mayor steps up and refuses to partner with any developers who are not taking full responsibility for addressing fire safety defects in their existing buildings.
“Londoners affected by the Building Safety Crisis need this action to be taken urgently, now.”
The full text of the motion is:
This Assembly believes that building safety is a vital issue for many Londoners and that leaseholders should be supported through the cladding crisis.
This Assembly calls on the Mayor to deliver a new Building Safety Support Hub, as proposed within a recent budget amendment. The Hub would offer specialist support to leaseholders and building owners so they can navigate their complex legal and financial situations. The Hub would also offer specialist mental health support to leaseholders.
Furthermore, this Assembly reiterates its calls on the Mayor to refuse to partner with any developers who are not taking full responsibility for remedial repairs related to fire safety defects in their existing buildings.
This Assembly supports this proposal as we believe we should do our upmost to help leaseholders who have been caught up in this crisis through no fault of their own.
Notes to editors
1. Watch the full webcast.
2. The motion was agreed by 13 votes for and 0 votes against.
3. Susan Hall AM, who proposed the motion, is available for interview.
4. As well as investigating issues that matter to Londoners, the London Assembly acts as a check and a balance on the Mayor.
For media enquiries, please contact Emma Bowden on 07849 303 897. For out of hours media enquiries, call 020 7983 4000 and ask for the London Assembly duty press officer.