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building and fire safety

Resident's safety is our top priority

It’s why we’re doing everything we can to make sure that buildings meet fire safety standards and comply with the latest government guidance.  

The tragic fire in Grenfell in 2017 raised serious questions around the safety of certain buildings. Building practices and materials that were previously deemed as safe, are no longer accepted, and the Government has set out actions to mitigate the risk of fire spreading.   

We have assessed all our buildings that are likely to need remediation. The investigations, interim safety measures, and remediation works are likely to be significant and we know that this is an extremely concerning situation for residents affected.  

Irwell Valley Homes is:  

  • Working with Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service and specialist fire and buildings experts to make sure all fire safety requirements are met and kept up to date. 
  • Making applications to the Government’s Building Safety Fund where the building and works are eligible.  
  • Exploring technical, legal, and financial options to find a solution for leaseholders in affected buildings.  
  • Asking the government for more support for leaseholders.  
  • Seeking ways to recover costs from third parties.  
  • Driving down costs where we can.   
  • Providing wellbeing support for all residents.  
  • Keeping residents informed and engaging with resident’s associations.  

On the 10th of December the government announced a new £4bn fund to cover the cost of remediating unsafe cladding on buildings between 11m and 18m. The government intends to source the funding from building developers, with those with annual profits from housebuilding exceeding £10m being asked to contribute by the end of March.

The government has also announced the immediate withdrawal of its consolidated advice note, which provided guidance on measures building owners should take to ensure buildings are safe. It has been replaced by new guidance developed by the British Standards Institute – the PAS 9980. This sets out five clear steps that should be taken to identify risks and highlight any mitigating steps that can be taken to address them. It is hoped the new advice will ensure homes and residents are safe, whilst also protecting people from unnecessary costs and upheaval.

We welcome this announcement and fully support any additional help to make homes safe and mitigate the financial burden on leaseholders.