Pledge signed to protect tenants from cost of fire safety remediation works

York-based house builder, Persimmon, has signed a pledge setting out the industry’s commitments to removing cladding and remediating fire safety issues in buildings over 11 metres.

It follows discussions with the Government’s Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities. (DLUHC).

Persimmon says The Developer Pledge’s commitments are consistent with the approach it had already revealed in February last year.

The company committed to protect leaseholders from the costs of cladding removal or the remediation of fire related safety issues on the small number of multi-storey buildings it had constructed. And it set aside £75m for rectification works.

The Government’s Developer Pledge commits developers to address life-critical fire-safety issues on all buildings of 11 metres and above in England built in the 30 years prior to 5 April 2022.

And firms which sign up must not claim any funds from the Government’s Building Safety Fund. Persimmon has also previously confirmed it will not claim from this fund.

Of the 33 developments identified by Persimmon as likely to require remediation work, four have now secured External Wall System Fire Review certificates EWS1 certificates. The Group says it is working with the management companies and agents of the remainder to complete any necessary works.

Dean Finch

Dean Finch, group chief executive, said: “Over a year ago we said leaseholders in multi-storey buildings Persimmon constructed should not have to pay for the remediation of cladding and fire related issues. We are pleased to reaffirm this commitment and sign the Government’s Developer Pledge.

“We made this commitment last year as we believed it was not only fair for leaseholders but also the right thing to do as one of the country’s leading homebuilders.

“We are pleased we were able to work constructively with the Government to secure this agreement.”