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20 May 2020 / Alec Samuels
Issue: 7887 / Categories: Features , Health & safety
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Grenfell & the cladding problem

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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

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MOVERS & SHAKERS

Slater Heelis—Charlotte Beck

Slater Heelis—Charlotte Beck

Partner and Manchester office lead appointed head of family

Civil Justice Council—Nigel Teasdale

Civil Justice Council—Nigel Teasdale

DWF insurance services director appointed to Civil Justice Council

R3—Jodie Wildridge

R3—Jodie Wildridge

Kings Chambers barrister appointed chair of R3 Yorkshire

NEWS

The abolition of assured shorthold tenancies and section 21 evictions marks the beginning of a ‘brave new world’ for England’s rental sector, writes Daniel Bacon of Seddons GSC

Stephen Gold’s latest Civil Way column rounds up a flurry of procedural and regulatory changes reshaping housing, alternative dispute resolution (ADR) and personal injury litigation
Patients are being systematically failed by an NHS complaints regime that is opaque, poorly enforced and often stacked against them, argues Charles Davey of The Barrister Group
A wealthy Russian divorce battle has produced a sharp warning about trying to challenge foreign nuptial agreements in the wrong English court. Writing in NLJ this week, Vanessa Friend and Robert Jackson of Hodge Jones & Allen examine Timokhin v Timokhina, where the High Court enforced Russian judgments arising from a prenuptial agreement despite arguments based on the landmark Radmacher decision
An obscure Victorian tort may be heading for an unexpected revival after a significant Privy Council ruling that could reshape liability for dangerous escapes, according to Richard Buckley, barrister and emeritus professor of law at the University of Reading
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