3 yrs ago we found our building had the same type of cladding as Grenfell. 3 yrs on, & we don’t even have a schedule for its removal.
No matter how hard you try, you can never fully communicate to someone who isn’t affected by this scandal what it actually feels like. (1/12)
It prompts remarks such as, ’No, they can’t ask you to pay, that’s not fair. There must be something you can do’. I explain again & then that’s where it gets awkward - most people aren’t that well versed in what to say to you when you tell them your home is worth nothing. (2/12)
Instead they just reiterate their disbelief and tell me reassuring things like ‘they’ll sort it out - they have to’. ‘They’ of course refers to our government; who even themselves have said leaseholders shouldn’t have to pay…(but turn a blind eye when leaseholders do). (3/12)
Others who vaguely know what is going on remark, ‘Is it STILL not sorted yet?’…
‘No. It’s not. It’s still unsafe. I still can’t sell. My flat is still worth £0. I still can’t remortgage. I still can’t move on’. (4/12)
My home - the thing I worked tirelessly for - has become this heavy, disgusting, shameful weight that gnaws at me & my plans for my future, day and night.
The discovery my flat was unsafe came at time when I was really enjoying life. I was student & excited for my future.(5/12)
This scandal took all that away from me. I'll never forgive our Government for their handling of this mess, for the misery & angst they have - & continue - to inflict on people in similar situations to mine. (6/12)
When @ukcag formed, we thought we were just bringing together a couple hundred unlucky leaseholders. I don’t think we ever thought that 3 years on from Grenfell there would be an estimated 3 million people living in unsellable homes. (7/12)
This just makes me angry and incensed. There should never have been a need for the #EndOurCladdingScandal campaign. We shouldn’t need to spend endless hours of our time tackling years incompetence from our government.
The gov will tell you they are doing all they can. (8/12)
But that is just not enough. They've dragged their heels every step of the way…ACM funding only, the state aid forms fiasco, the first come first served basis (!?), waking watches, insurance - the list goes on. It’s exasperating.
(9/12)
You and your predecessors have each looked us in eye and told us you will will fix this. (10/12)
By all means, @RobertJenrick build new homes, but let making people sleep safe at night in buildings free from cladding & fire safety defects be your lasting legacy as SoS for Housing. We don't have the luxury of time; we will not wait &, most importantly, nor will fire. (11/12)
For those who don't know much about our situation this video short video makes it clear, along with our 10 asks . Head to @EOCS_Official and support us all #EndOurCladdingScandal (12/12)
1/ Bitter sweet...after nearly £200,000 spent on waking watch and related works & surveys...it looks like our £7K a week waking watch is soon to be lifted!🤞Great welcomed news, but no thanks to @mhclg's inefficacious Waking Watch Relief Fund (aka 'alarm fund') here's why...
To lift our WW we either had to address the internal defects which instigated the WW or install an £89K alarm. When the fund was announced on 17/12/20, I hoped we'd get an alarm covered fast, buying time to sort these defects
3/ But it took until 31/01/21 for the WWRF to open and even then it didn't open fully (despite @team_greenhalgh saying it would)...
Whilst waiting for the fund to open we spent £46,125 on our WW...and every week that subsequently passed a further £7,166.88 was spent.