Liberal Democrat peers have defeated the Government to secure two changes to the Government’s Fire Safety Bill, which was introduced in the wake of the Grenfell tragedy.
If these changes are accepted by the Government, the amendments would:
Introduce a public register for fire safety, similar to the EPC register, for prospective and current renters, leaseholders and owners (Amendment 10)
Prevent freeholders passing on any remediation costs to leaseholders and tenants. (Amendment 13).
The amendments, put forward by Liberal Democrat Local Government Spokesperson in the Lords Kath Pinnock, passed by 17 votes (Amendment 10) and 13 votes (Amendment 13) respectively.
Following the votes, Liberal Democrat Local Government Spokesperson in the House of Lords Kath Pinnock said: “Currently freeholders are passing on the remediation costs needed following the Grenfell tragedy, leaving many with the choice of either facing bankruptcy as they‘re forced to pay huge fees, or selling their home for a lot less value due to the work needing to be done.
“The vote today has seen not only the Liberal Democrats’ plans to ban these outrageous costs succeed, but so have the Party’s plans to introduce a register to ensure homes receive a fire safety rating to introduce desperately needed accountability and transparency into the system.
“The Government have often pledged to ensure a tragedy such as Grenfell can never happen again, but any plans to overturn the Liberal Democrats’ changes to the Fire Safety Bill will undermine that promise. Ministers must accept the amendments secured today or they risk yet another fire claiming innocent lives.”