'I'm stuck in my flat and nobody is helping'

A woman who says she is unable to sell her flat due to its cladding has described the "huge emotional impact" the situation is having on her.

Leaseholder Lucy Tissington said it had been almost impossible for potential buyers to get a mortgage on Bristol's Clayewater Court, since it was deemed the block did not have an adequate standard of fire safety.

"Nobody is taking responsibility. It's incredibly stressful and it's been going on for seven years," the 34-year-old added.

Developer Clayewater Homes said the flat met "all relevant building regulations in force at the time" it was built and sold.

A spokesperson added: "We have no legal or contractual responsibility for any further works.”

HomeGround, acting on behalf of the freeholder, Adriatic Land 5 Limited, said it sympathised with leaseholders and was "staying in close contact with the managing agent of the building to find a solution".

Ms Tissington moved into Clayewater Court in St George in April 2017, two months before a fire destroyed London's Grenfell Tower, killing 72 people.

The disaster led to changes in building regulations.

Ms Tissington's block of flats was subsequently inspected and deemed a fire risk.

It is now rated B2 on an EWS1 form - something mortgage applicants were advised to get to prove their property is safe.

According to Clayewater Court's form, its external fire safety is not adequate, and work needs to be done to improve it.

That work could cost tens of thousands of pounds, which Ms Tissington and her fellow leaseholders do not feel they should have to pay for.

In 2021, the Conservative government said buildings under 18m (59ft), such as Clayewater Court, were no longer considered high risk and therefore an ESW1 form was no longer advised.

However, many buildings got the form before that announcement, and mortgage companies will still consider it when deciding whether to lend.

Ms Tissington said she had spent seven years trying to get her point across, which had taken a "huge" emotional toll.

"I want to maybe start a family with my partner. I want to get away from these costs and I can't.

"I shouldn't have to put up with this stress for this many years," she said.

Ms Tissington is part of the national End our Cladding Scandal campaign group.

"For nobody to say that they are going to help, as well as living in a building that's deemed a risk and could set on fire, it's huge. I just want to move on.

"Someone has got to help. Someone's got to be held accountable," she added.

MP Kerry McCarthy said Ms Tissington was "caught in an awful situation".

"It's clearly unfair because all she was doing was what the [previous] government told her to do," she added.

Ms Tissington purchased the property via the Help to Buy scheme and paid for the deposit with a government loan, which was interest-free for five years.

She said she had hoped to pay the loan off by now, but was instead paying interest.

"I'm essentially stuck in a loan that I can't get out of," she added.

Thomas Jackson, managing director of Cooper Associates Mortgages, explained lenders considering B2-rated properties would "most likely" require documentation from the developer or management company laying out the plan for remedial work to be completed.

"There are well-known high street lenders that are open to consider B2-rated reports, but would be reliant on valuers' comments and/or further documentation," he added.

Ms McCarthy, MP for Bristol East, said the new government would "offer better protection for leaseholders in the future and help them afford those remedial works".

The Labour MP said she planned to speak with the housing minister to help Ms Tissington receive "the support that she needs".

A Clayewater Homes spokesperson said they knew the situation was "stressful and difficult for the leaseholders".

"However, under the building regulations when the property was completed in 2016 and under legislation in force today, we have no legal or contractual responsibility for any further works,” they added.

A spokesperson for Homeground said it had been engaging with the government and the developer to "progress remediation as quickly as possible".

The Conservatives were approached for comment.

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