WELSH CLADDING ON HIGH RISE BUILDINGS - NO SUPPORT

All the owners(leaseholders) of apartments in high rise properties ( that is all over 3 storeys) purchased their homes in good faith, assuming  the buildings were safe. They would all have been passed as safe when built, but changing building safety regulations after the Grenfell Tower fire now means that the cladding on many of these buildings is non-compliant. They are faced with possible bills of £20k - £35k per apartment to bring the buildings up to present fire safety standards.  If the buildings are not brought up to a safe standard then they can be closed down by the fire authorities. The alternative is 24 hour fire Watch which costs thousands of pounds a month. Again beyond the reach of average families. 

The majority of leaseholders of high rise buildings across Wales, can neither afford to pay for the replacement of the inadequate cladding, remortgage to pay the bills or they sell their properties.This is at a time when many are struggling to pay mortgages and service charges already, having lost jobs or are on shorter hours and incomes. Some will lose their homes and everything they have from no fault if their own. 

The Welsh Government has provided assistance to social housing companies, and for buildings with ACM cladding, but these are the minority ( 15 out of 143 high rise buildings ) but there is no clear support for those in private housing apartments. There is a feeling of grievance that the Welsh Government is not supporting its residents as the English Government is doing.

We want the Welsh Government to follow the lead of the English Government and provide financial support to all high rise buildings in Wales. Please sign this petition to help the many families struggling to keep their homes.