The Grenfell Tower Tragedy

Following from the tragic events in North Kensington, DCLG has issued guidance to all local authorities and Housing Associations in respect of fire safety checks predominantly aimed at cladding of blocks of flats. As a result, it has come to light that the Government faces an estimated bill of more than £600m for replacing flammable cladding on housing blocks after the Grenfell Tower disaster.Sixty blocks have so far failed cladding fire safety checks - every one tested so far - with another 540 still to be looked at.The Metropolitan Police said officials had established that the blaze started in a Hotpoint fridge-freezer. This raises further concern about electrical appliances supplied as part of a rented property. It is unknown as to whether the fridge belonged to the occupant, however, there has always been concern about whether electrical appliances should be tested. The Housing & Planning Act 2016 has made provision for the testing of electrical appliances supplied by landlords.

Please note that other Freeholders of blocks of flats are also being advised to review their own blocks and consider whether or not their block may be affected. A dedicated email address has been set up for Freeholders and their representatives to use being: housingchecks@communities.gsi.gov.uk

So many questions remain unanswered, why this was allowed to happen and who will carry the reposonsibility for the unnecessary deaths of so many people.

Our thoughts and prayers are with all the victims of the tragedy.

Susie Crolla - The Guild of Letting & Management