NHF launches fresh call for remediation funding as sector reacts to Grenfell Inquiry response

However Ms Henderson said yesterday: “Housing associations are doing everything they can to make their homes safe as quickly as possible, however social housing tenants still cannot access government funding to remove non-ACM [aluminium composite material] combustible cladding on their homes.

“The lack of funding is not only affecting the pace of remediation in social housing but forcing not-for-profit housing associations to divert money away from services for residents and building new homes, to cover these colossal costs.”

She also pointed out that “manufacturers of unsafe materials have not contributed towards the costs of making buildings safe”.

Last month Ms Henderson told MPs it was “immoral and unfair” that social landlords and residents did not have equal access to the Building Safety Fund and the Cladding Safety Scheme. 

The government has said it plans to increase funding for social landlords to fix unsafe buildings from April as part of a remediation acceleration plan, but has not put a figure on the pledge yet.

Sadiq Khan, mayor of London, said the goverment’s response to the inquiry was an “important step” towards the reform “needed to correct the catastrophic failures exposed by the Grenfell Tower tragedy”.

However he also spoke out over the issue of remediation and urged government action.

“It is shameful that more than seven years on from the Grenfell Tower fire, thousands of people across London and the country are still living in fear due to dangerous cladding on their homes,” he said. 

“Ministers must now act swiftly to implement their plans for tougher building regulations, including giving a new construction regulator real powers to raise standards and ensure homes are safe and secure.”

Campaign groups also raised questions over the government’s response. 

End Our Cladding Scandal said there were “seemingly positive measures” but questioned when genuine action will be seen. 

“Angela Rayner has said that anyone, anywhere, living in an unsafe home is one person too many; however, Labour’s priority of building 1.5 million homes will continue to hamper efforts to fix hundreds of thousands of unsafe flats across the country,” the group said. 

Grenfell United, which represents survivors from the tragedy and bereaved families, also said it was “frustrated” at the response. 

“We need to see real tangible safety changes – not another list of consultations, review and delays,” the group said. 

The Local Government Association (LGA) said it was pleased the government had accepted the inquiry’s recommendations. 

“As we now act on these, it is crucial that councils and the fire and rescue services are closely involved, given the leading role they play in fixing buildings and ensuring residents are safe at all times,” said Louise Gittins, chair of the LGA.

London Councils, the umbrella organisation that represents London’s 32 boroughs, also welcomed the government’s announcement. 

“We welcome action to improve building safety standards and to prevent a tragedy like the Grenfell Tower fire happening again,” said Grace Williams, executive member for housing and regeneration at London Councils.

“The Grenfell Inquiry’s report was damning. Residents were let down by a broken system that failed at every level, with fatal consequences.”