Romford Councillor Calls On Building Safety Regulators To Make Swift Decision over Apartments As Residents Left Unable To Secure Mortgage.

Councillor David Taylor has called on the government’s building safety regulator to come to a swift decision on the remediation of the Axis apartments, following repeated delays which have left some residents unable to secure a mortgage. 

Following the tragedy of Grenfell, 8 years ago this week, high rise blocks across the UK have been subject to stricter legislation around building safety. Tough new standards, brought in by the last government, have meant thousands of the country’s tallest buildings have had to be inspected and, in some cases, have changes made to them to bring them up to new standards. 

Mortgage lenders have been cautious to provide a mortgage for any home that is in a block which has not yet been updated to the new standards, and some residents in the Axis apartments have reported being unable to secure a mortgage. This can leave them trapped on higher interest rates or unable to sell. 

A building owner cannot go ahead and upgrade the building until the government’s Building Safety Regulator (BSR) has approved the new plans. Delays within the regulator have left blocks across the country waiting for the necessary work. 

Councillor David Taylor has been liaising with the BSR to understand the reason behind repeated delays in their approval of the work required at the Romford blocks, calling the wait unacceptable. 

“The government’s regulator has repeatedly delayed making a decision around the Axis apartments, which is leaving my residents and the building owner in limbo. 

A decision was due to be made in November 2024, after already being delayed, and I submitted a complaint to the BSR and called on our MP Andrew Rosindell to provide his support in my campaign. I wrote to the relevant government Minister, Alex Norris MP, in December and have not received a response. 

This week I have, again, raised another complaint with the BSR and pushed the Minister to provide a response. My residents cannot be left waiting like this, with delays time and time again. 

The new building safety legislation is welcome and, as the horrific events of Grenfell showed us, are necessary. Government after government let people down and lives were lost. It is a stain on this nation’s conscience. 

I will not let me residents be ignored and left behind by the BSR and the Minister.”

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