Civil servants in the building safety team of DLUHC were informed bluntly this afternoon by directors of residents management companies and right to manage companies that they would resign rather than accept the role of building safety director imposed upon them.
The initiative, which appears to have surprised the leasehold team of officials, is to ensure that there is an identifiable, responsible person for building safety. But it is not a requirement for freeholder owned sites, and it is estimated that it will cost another £70,000 cost to leaseholders.
Of all those caught up in the cladding and building safety scandal, few (apart from freeholders) excite less sympathy than investors in multiple flats: more than three investment properties of any type and you pay for the remediation yourself.
This is the government’s view: if you are an owner occupier or small scale buy-to-letter, we will help you out; if you own multiple assets then, sorry, but you have to pay yourself.
That’s tough, because they are paying for other people’s mistakes.
