header-logo header-logo

Home Login E-newsletter About us
20 May 2020 / Alec Samuels
Issue: 7887 / Categories: Features , Health & safety
printer mail-detail

Grenfell & the cladding problem

© Copyright LexisNexis 2026. All Rights Reserved.
21129
The lessons from Grenfell Tower must be learned & the hardship suffered by those living in cladded blocks must be alleviated says Alec Samuels

The Grenfell Tower fire of 14-15 June 2017, due to the inflammable cladding, led to the death of 72 people.

The tragedy had consequences for many leaseholders in the private sector throughout the country. They have had to pay for a waking fire watch, new fire alarms, new water sprinkler systems, new fire doors, and huge service charges for the removal and replacement of cladding. They have fallen into negative equity, unable to mortgage or remortgage their property, unable to sell or let for rent, and unable to insure, except at astronomic premiums. They suffer stress and anguish, financial hardship and even ruin, homelessness, calamity. Potential mortgagees require a fire risk certificate, and because of the shortage of qualified and indemnified engineers there is considerable delay and difficulty in obtaining the certificate. In addition to the law, issues of morality and ethics and social justice are involved.

Liability

Government

If you are not a subscriber, subscribe now to read this content
If you are already a subscriber sign in
...or Register for two weeks' free access to subscriber content

MOVERS & SHAKERS

Read All
Sponsored by
London Solicitors Litigation Association—John McElroy

London Solicitors Litigation Association—John McElroy

Fieldfisher partner appointed president as LSLA marks milestone year

Kingsley Napley—Kirsty Churm & Olivia Stiles

Kingsley Napley—Kirsty Churm & Olivia Stiles

Firm promotes two lawyers to partnership across employment and family

Foot Anstey—five promotions

Foot Anstey—five promotions

Firm promotes five lawyers to partnership across key growth areas

NEWS
Read All
NLJ this week: Divorce ‘nuclear weapon’ freezes assets but entangles outsiders
Freezing orders in divorce proceedings can unexpectedly ensnare third parties and disrupt businesses. In NLJ this week, Lucy James of Trowers & Hamlins explains how these orders—dubbed a ‘nuclear weapon’—preserve assets but can extend far beyond spouses to companies and business partners 
NLJ this week: What counts as ‘rent’? Court says labour alone won’t do
A Court of Appeal ruling has clarified that ‘rent’ must be monetary—excluding tenants paid in labour from statutory protection. In this week's NLJ, James Naylor explains Garraway v Phillips, where a tenant worked two days a week instead of paying rent
Your magistrates’ court needs you!
Thousands more magistrates are to be recruited, under a major shake-up to speed up and expand the hiring process
NLJ this week: Freed but failed—justice system leaves the innocent empty-handed
Three men wrongly imprisoned for a combined 77 years have been released—yet received ‘not a penny’ in compensation, exposing deep flaws in the justice system. Writing in NLJ this week, Dr Jon Robins reports on Justin Plummer, Oliver Campbell and Peter Sullivan, whose convictions collapsed amid discredited forensics, ‘oppressive’ police interviews and unreliable ‘cell confessions’
NLJ this week: Clarity on whistleblowing, settlements and tribunal limits
A quiet month for employment cases still delivers key legal clarifications. In his latest Employment Law Brief for NLJ, Ian Smith reports that whistleblowing protection remains intact even where disclosures are partly self-serving, provided the worker reasonably believes they serve the ‘public interest’ 
Copyright © 2026 LexisNexis
back-to-top-scroll