Serious fire safety defects in new build

smartest_smarty · 6 July 2017 at 2:04PM

Hi all,

First let me start by saying this isn't related to the recent events at Genfell Tower. This has been on going since the beginning of the year.

I moved in to a new build flat March 2016, it was signed off as fire safe and sold as safe to live in. Around January this year, it has now been discovered it does not have adequate fire safety. The hallway ceilings have been removed on all levels, and proposed work to remove all walls in the hallways, and then in each and every flat.

This is an outrageous case on NEGLIGENCE.

How can the building be signed off as safe and then a few months later be turned in to a building site.

Intrusive work is going to be performed in all flats soon.

What is the best way to go about this - to claim some form of compensation?

There is already a petition to halt all rent and service charge (these are shared ownership homes).

I don't think it's right I bought a new home and now it will have the walls and ceilings wrecked.

I want to pursue this either individually or collectively with the rest of the residents.

lwhiteman88 · 6 July 2017 at 2:10PM

Have they given any explanation as to why they are doing this?

It is quite peculiar and in the first instance I would be tempted to call your Local Authority building control and ask if they have been notified about the works. This element of work would involvement with building control.

You're are right in being worried about the fire safety as the halls will likely be fire protected lobbies and the plasterboard is part of the layering to give this fire performance.

smartest_smarty · 6 July 2017 at 2:19PM

They've admitted that it was signed off, but there are several fire safety defects, including how the walls were built, which allow smoke to travel freely through the block. So now they are proposing work to all floors, and all flats in the entire building.

It's extremely incompetent. Also, they said this was discovered at the beginning of the year, so they destroyed the hallway ceilings for emergency repair work, but since then nothing has actually been done. It's just been left like that. It doesn't seem to be an emergency at all. The housing association don't respond to emails either.

I bought 55% of the home, I think this will cause it to depreciate, especially with the hallways in the current state, and fire safety defects discovered, and proposed intrusive future work in the flat, no one would go near this place.

lwhiteman88 · 6 July 2017 at 2:20PM

lwhiteman88 wrote: »

Have they given any explanation as to why they are doing this?

It is quite peculiar and in the first instance I would be tempted to call your Local Authority building control and ask if they have been notified about the works. This element of work would involvement with building control.

You're are right in being worried about the fire safety as the halls will likely be fire protected lobbies and the plasterboard is part of the layering to give this fire performance.

I should have re-read your post. I see that they are doing this to make it fire safe. I would certainly try and get an explanation from the contractor/developer as to what has failed and what they are doing to rectify and a programme of the work. You will likely have other provisions for fire safety and it may be deemed sufficient whilst the works are ongoing but there should have been some sort information given to you as to what the precautions are and if any temporary fire strategy is in place whilst the works are ongoing.

smartest_smarty · 6 July 2017 at 2:27PM

Of course doing it for safety is fine, and we were told fire strategy has changed from stay put to evacuation. With lots of wireless alarm sounders placed around the building.

Rectifying it for safety is fine, but it's the fact it was signed off as safe already and then sold to me, and now I have to go through ongoing work, turning it in to a building site again.

It's negligent and reckless, I want to know the best way to seek compensation for this individually or collectively for all residents affected.

EachPenny · 6 July 2017 at 3:28PM

smartest_smarty wrote: »

It's negligent and reckless, I want to know the best way to seek compensation for this individually or collectively for all residents affected.

Go and speak to a solicitor for advice, people on the internet can help, but you need proper legal advice.

And as a friendly suggestion, you might also want to get legal advice on the wisdom of publishing a statement which names a person or organisation and accuses them of 'negligence'.

You also need to separate faults during design and construction from the work to rectify those faults and make the building safer. People objecting to fire safety works on the grounds it inconveniences them are unlikely to get a great deal of sympathy. Objecting to the original failings you claim is a different matter.

eddddy · 6 July 2017 at 3:29PM

Are you completely clear about who is paying for this work?

For example, has the original building contractor agreed that they are covering the cost?

If the Freeholder (Housing Association) is paying, are they planning to re-charge it to leaseholders as part of the service charge?

- If it was not built to spec, hopefully the building contractor should pay.
- If it was badly specified/designed, hopefully the architect should pay
- But if the Housing Association is simply improving/upgrading fire safety, leaseholders may have to contribute to that

societys_child · 6 July 2017 at 3:37PM

Difficult to see how compensation will somehow help to make the place safer . .?

ReadingTim · 6 July 2017 at 3:56PM

societys_child wrote: »

Difficult to see how compensation will somehow help to make the place safer . .?

The "compensation" is the remedial work which is being done to make the place safer.

OP - this is neither negligent, reckless, nor worthy of compensation. Suggest you put your time and energy into learning what these terms mean, rather than believing every "where there's blame there's a claim" ambulance chasing ads you see on daytime TV.

Guest101 · 6 July 2017 at 4:10PM

There could be a small element of compensation. Given they will need access to the flat for a guess - 3 days? you could ask for alternate accommodation for 3 days.

ScorpiondeRooftrouser · 6 July 2017 at 7:24PM

The OP does say " proposed work to remove all walls in the hallways, and then in each and every flat. "

Should the walls not be replaced and redecorated to the current standard (which may be in excess of the standard provided when the flats were bought) then yes, they should be compensated for that.

You'd have to wait first and see what they do though.

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Serious fire safety defects in new build

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