Bromley residents with "Grenfell" Cladding Bills
Donation protected
I am making this appeal on behalf of my neighbours during this time of uncertainty.
Residents of Northpoint, a flat block in Bromley, have been paying approximately £5,000 per week for the last two years for 24 hour waking watch, and other fire related works, as ordered by the fire brigade, while plans are made to replace the dangerous Grenfell style cladding.
Due to COVID-19 this pressure is worse than ever, as some residents have already been made redundant, lost working hours or are in self isolation without pay. However, the waking watch bills do not stop – without waking watch in place the fire brigade will close the building and residents will be left homeless.
Many residents have already taken on second jobs, longer hours, depleted their savings or had to take on loans over the last two years to pay these bills, so this fundraiser aims to take some of the weight from their shoulders during this uncertain time.
All funds will be paid directly to the building to cover waking watch costs.
Our flat block like many around the UK has people from all backgrounds; young families, NHS workers, retirees, self-employed people, business owners, city workers, retail workers, carers and many more, just trying to make ends meet.
I appreciate it's tough for lots of people out there right now. I'm just trying to lift the weight off my neighbours shoulders by reducing some of our bills during these uncertain times.
You can read more about our story here
FAQs
Why can't the residents just do waking watch themselves?
Short answer: insurance.
In the beginning residents in the building, family and friends were doing waking watch shifts themselves. However, we were told the building was not insured if a fire were to happen and the individual on shift could face being sued and even criminal prosecution. We had to outsource to a company with a multi-million pound insurance policy in place to protect the building and it's residents.
Why does it cost so much?
Not only do we have to pay someone an hourly rate (which is more during unsocial hours overnight) we have to pay an agency with a huge insurance policy in place due to the liability if something was to happen to the building. These ongoing bills also include works we have been forced to undertake after discovering the cladding such as a new fire alarm system, inspections and investigations. The total costs due to the cladding paid by each resident over the last almost 3 years equates to a spend of approximately £5,000 per week for the building.
Why don't you just remove the cladding?
Removing the cladding would cost each flat owner £50,000 - £70,000 based on work estimates building companies have carried out. As the flats are currently valued at £0 due to being un-saleble, residents are unable to remortgage or loan against their flats even if they wanted to.
Didn't the government announce they are paying for buildings with cladding?
Yes, the government has announced a budget for cladding removal, however there are uncertainties around which buildings and types of cladding will be granted funds. This will not back date or cover any expenses incurred so far by residents including waking watch, or the fire alarm system.
I can't donate at the moment, what else can I do?
Sharing this fundraiser is a great way to help us spread the word on our situation. You can also write to the local council to share your concerns and ask them why, almost 3 years after Grenfell 100 residents in your local area are still stuck in a dangerous building.
Residents of Northpoint, a flat block in Bromley, have been paying approximately £5,000 per week for the last two years for 24 hour waking watch, and other fire related works, as ordered by the fire brigade, while plans are made to replace the dangerous Grenfell style cladding.
Due to COVID-19 this pressure is worse than ever, as some residents have already been made redundant, lost working hours or are in self isolation without pay. However, the waking watch bills do not stop – without waking watch in place the fire brigade will close the building and residents will be left homeless.
Many residents have already taken on second jobs, longer hours, depleted their savings or had to take on loans over the last two years to pay these bills, so this fundraiser aims to take some of the weight from their shoulders during this uncertain time.
All funds will be paid directly to the building to cover waking watch costs.
Our flat block like many around the UK has people from all backgrounds; young families, NHS workers, retirees, self-employed people, business owners, city workers, retail workers, carers and many more, just trying to make ends meet.
I appreciate it's tough for lots of people out there right now. I'm just trying to lift the weight off my neighbours shoulders by reducing some of our bills during these uncertain times.
You can read more about our story here
FAQs
Why can't the residents just do waking watch themselves?
Short answer: insurance.
In the beginning residents in the building, family and friends were doing waking watch shifts themselves. However, we were told the building was not insured if a fire were to happen and the individual on shift could face being sued and even criminal prosecution. We had to outsource to a company with a multi-million pound insurance policy in place to protect the building and it's residents.
Why does it cost so much?
Not only do we have to pay someone an hourly rate (which is more during unsocial hours overnight) we have to pay an agency with a huge insurance policy in place due to the liability if something was to happen to the building. These ongoing bills also include works we have been forced to undertake after discovering the cladding such as a new fire alarm system, inspections and investigations. The total costs due to the cladding paid by each resident over the last almost 3 years equates to a spend of approximately £5,000 per week for the building.
Why don't you just remove the cladding?
Removing the cladding would cost each flat owner £50,000 - £70,000 based on work estimates building companies have carried out. As the flats are currently valued at £0 due to being un-saleble, residents are unable to remortgage or loan against their flats even if they wanted to.
Didn't the government announce they are paying for buildings with cladding?
Yes, the government has announced a budget for cladding removal, however there are uncertainties around which buildings and types of cladding will be granted funds. This will not back date or cover any expenses incurred so far by residents including waking watch, or the fire alarm system.
I can't donate at the moment, what else can I do?
Sharing this fundraiser is a great way to help us spread the word on our situation. You can also write to the local council to share your concerns and ask them why, almost 3 years after Grenfell 100 residents in your local area are still stuck in a dangerous building.
Organizer
Danielle Humphreys
Organizer
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