Lessons from Grenfell Tower Inquiry

Last week Phase 2 of the Grenfell Tower Inquiry was published, investigating the events that lead to and reactions after the Grenfell Tower disaster on 14th June 2017. For us as managing agents, and for leasehold property owners, the Grenfell Tragedy fundamentally changed the landscape of the leasehold sector. Seven years on, we found ourselves reading the report with dismay, sorrow and not a small amount of anger.

Our blog today aims to provide a very brief summary of the report to see what lessons have been learned and what we can expect in future. You can read the full report on the Grenfell Tower Inquiry website.

The report has been incredibly damning of the multitude of parties involved, and highlighted concerns with organisations from the ACM cladding panel manufacturers Aronic Architectural Products and insulation manufacturers Kingspan and Celotex, right up to the Building Research Establishment (BRE – setup in 1921 but privatised in 1997) and the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG). Even certification bodies like the British Board of Agrement (BBA), LABC and UKAS have all been party to the process that allowed unsafe materials to be used.

The report highlights deliberate dishonesty and active concealment of the facts around materials that were ultimately involved in the Grenfell incident.

The report also questions the Tenant Management Organisation, and its poor relationship and lack of support for the residents at Grenfell Tower. It highlighted the need to take any concerns raised by residents seriously and to ensure they are investigated, and for managers and residents to be treated respectfully to ensure proper and safe management. It was also noted that even though a fire safety consultant had recommended a fire safety strategy was required in 2009, it had still not been approved by the time of the incident in 2017. This sadly highlights the view of several connected industries that commonly measure actions not by weeks and months, but by quarters and years.

The has been a small number of significant fires in the UK in recent decades, including:

• Knowsley Heights 1991

• Garnock Court 1999

• The Edge 2005

• Lakanal House 2009

• Adair Tower 2015

• Grenfell Tower 2017

These incidents have all resulted in significant lessons for everyone involved in fire safety, though it is tragic for a disaster like Grenfell to have occurred before meaningful reform and changes were made.

What should we take away from this report?

Ultimately as leaseholders, you have a responsibility to report any building safety issues immediately to your management team. You should also ensure within your flat that your fire doors are functional, and your alarm systems are tested on a regular basis. Portable Appliance Testing (PAT) should also be carried out annually – the fire at Grenfell Tower was started in a flat, where a fridge caught alight.

If you are part of a management team as a Responsible Person, an Accountable Person or a Principle Accountable Person - explanations of these roles here - you should take building safety matters seriously and act on any reports with urgency and seek competent advice where needed.

If you have any concerns about fire safety in your apartment building, we recommend you contact the manager responsible for your property to highlight those concerns and understand the next steps to resolve any issues. If this does not result in positive actions, then you may wish to contact the local fire service or council to have an independent review of your building and ensure any necessary changes are made for the safety of residents.

As always please get in touch with a member of our team and we will be happy to assist.