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Written question asked by Ruth Cadbury (Labour) on Tuesday, 5 September 2023, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 11 September 2023 (named day). It was answered by Lee Rowley (Conservative) on Monday, 11 September 2023 on behalf of the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities.

Leasehold: Buildings

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, if he will make an assessment of the potential financial implications for leaseholders who lease a building built with reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC).

Answer

Individual building owners and managers continue to be responsible for health and safety, including responding to safety alerts such as RAAC.

Building owners must address safety risks of all kinds in their buildings through a risk-based, proportionate and evidence-based approach. On the 1 May 2019, the Standing Committee on Structural Safety issued a safety alert on the failure of RAAC planks. Local authorities, like other building owners, are advised to follow available professional guidance.

The Local Government Association has advised members to check whether any buildings in their estates have RAAC, to ensure it can be identified, assessed, and responded to accordingly. This is accessible on the LGA website and in line with the guidance from the Institution of Structural Engineers. If further buildings are identified as having suspected or confirmed RAAC, building owners and managers should follow the guidance to put appropriate mitigation in place.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
197837
Session
2022-23
Grouped for answer
Yes
Subjects
Buildings Finance Leasehold Concrete
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk