Councils cannot insure buildings with flammable cladding can become safe, says Watchdog.
The watchdog says Welsh councils cannot do enough to prevent another Grenfell Tower Fire.
Last updated 2nd Aug 2023
Spending Watchdog Adrian Crompton says that Welsh councils and fire and rescue services are not able to ensure building safety.
In a report, concerns are outlined over how Wales will enforce new building rules to prevent a repeat of the Grenfell Tower Fire.
The Building Safety Act was passed by the UK Parliament in 2022. But how different countries have implemented this law differs. In England, the UK Government have the Health and Safety Executive in charge of building safety regulations. In Wales, this role has been given to councils.
Now this watchdog is saying that local councils are struggling to cope with this new role.
Mark Thomas bought his flat in Cardiff Bay back in 2006. After the Grenfell fire, his building was found to have dangerous, flammable wooden cladding.
His building was also found to have missing fire breaks, as well as serious building defects.
He told us his building then had to pay to keep people on fire watch.
'After Grenfell, a lot of developments were hit with huge costs of 'waking watches', 24-hour watches where you employ people to walk around the building to ensure there is no fire starting, which you would then alert to residents'.
He told us that the difference in the law between Wales and England is making it hard for people living in these at risk buildings to see any changes.
'The difference in English and Welsh Legislation is a big issue.
'We are having to take our developers to court ourselves at our own risk and with our own money.
'In England, we could put the local authority and South Wales Fire and Rescue to do that for us'.
Mark explained that he can't sell his flat, even if he wanted to. Because of the unsafe cladding, to sell the property he explained that he would need to sell at less than 50% off the price.
'I feel as though I have been robbed'.