What is this group for? 

A forum to share information and support each other.

The information shared on this website and on other mediums (Whatsapp, email, community meetings) is collated by everyday residents who are not professionals in the area of fire safety, it is always changing as we learn more. It should be not taken alone or in lieu of your own investigations and professional advice. 

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Issue:

Barnet Council issues a vague letter to 580 residents that the cladding on the houses need to be replaced and the homeowners are responsible for the costs of £14,000 - £23,000.

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Affected homes by Cladding Type:

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Affected homes by Ward:

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Argument:

These homes were designed and built by the council as part of the new Watling Estate “Homes for Heroes” campaigns for soldiers returning from WW1. The council subsequently sold these houses in the “Right to Buy Scheme”, residents bought these homes in good faith. The council then choose to make the Watling Estate a conversation area on 8th of April 1988, actually denying residents the right to make adjustments to their homes and forcing them to use the same cladding in keeping with the area.

In a complete 180 degree turn around the council has now changed their mind and decided this historic cladding is an unsafe category 1 hazard and residents must pay to replace it.

Grenfell Tower has been the worst domestic fire we have witnessed in living memory, and the government put the responsibility of the failure to the manufacturers, developers and Michael Grove (Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities of the United Kingdom) himself stated “Faulty and ambiguous” Government guidance allowed the Grenfell Tower tragedy to occur.”

After Grenfell Fire grants were created to help homeowners of high rise buildings above 18 meters. Since then, new legislation has been introduced to help mid-rise building between 11m-18m in height.

As terraced / semi attached houses under 11m in heigh we have fallen into an unprotected gap in the current legislation of receiving help, we are however no less important.

The council as the developers of these properties and the protectors of the Watling Estate Conservation Area for almost 100 years are soley responsible for these remedial works to properties.

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