On 10 November, L&Q leaseholders on the Kings Park estate in Harold Wood learned that their blocks have been cleared from any remediation requirements following a new fire risk assessment.
Hornchurch & Upminster MP, Julia Lopez, has been working with leaseholders across the Harold Wood estate to help residents through cladding and fire safety related challenges following the Grenfell Tragedy in 2017. Due to different management arrangements for each block, residents have faced a variety of challenges which Julia and her team have been trying to help unlock.
This has involved working with freeholders and their agents, the original developer of the estate, Countryside, as well as pressing Ministers in Westminster for a more proportionate approach to risk when assessing properties and for increased protections for leaseholders.
L&Q had been slow to provide a fire risk assessment of the blocks they manage but after representations from the MP on behalf of residents, the housing association’s Chief Executive committed to giving its four blocks priority status for new fire surveys.
These surveys were completed in September, and following further assessment all four blocks, have achieved B1 status. This means the fire risk to affected properties has been assessed to be ‘sufficiently low that no remedial works are required’. This finding will allow leaseholders to access a wider range of mortgage products and, for those that wish to move, should help to facilitate the sale of their home.
Julia said ‘I am so pleased to have been able to support L&Q leaseholders through the EWS1 process and that 130 more Kings Park residents will have the freedom that an EWS1 pass score provides. I am grateful to L&Q for the assistance they have provided in prioritising these properties within their wider assessment programmes across a vast portfolio.
While I am glad that more blocks have now navigated the modified fire risk process, I am acutely aware of the challenges currently being faced by leaseholders in other blocks. My team and I are actively working through other issues on the estate to assist those residents. To this end, earlier this week I spoke directly with the Building Safety Minister to highlight specific concerns relating to five other blocks and wider concerns regarding the consistency of the assessment process given the differing outcomes to assessments on the same estate, despite similar construction and materials being used on most blocks. I will endeavour to keep residents up to date on progress’.
