A NORTH-EAST MP has pledged to write to members of the Grenfell Inquiry and support residents living in a high-rise tower block with dangerous cladding, facing monumental repair costs.

On Saturday, Middlesbrough MP Andy McDonald offered reassurances to resident leaseholders living in the timber-cladded Community in a Cube (CIAC) building.

The Northern Echo: The CIAC building showing its wooden cladding Picture: STUART BOULTONThe CIAC building showing its wooden cladding Picture: STUART BOULTON

The MP, who attended a meeting set up between disgruntled residents, also vowed to speak to lawyers involved in an inquiry into the Grenfell disaster and the Shadow Housing Secretary John Healey.

The Northern Echo: Residents speak with Middlesbrough MP Andy McDonald Residents speak with Middlesbrough MP Andy McDonald

Last month, it was revealed that residents living in the 82-apartment building on Middlesbrough's riverside could have to pay thousands of pounds in replacement cladding and safety expenses.

The Northern Echo revealed that timber cladding on the building did not meet safety regulations that were introduced following the Grenfell Tower fire in June 2017.

At the residents' meeting, Andy McDonald said: "The residents have come together to have a discussion with lawyers amongst others about where they go from here.

"They’ve bought into a wonderful concept at Community in a Cube, and invested in their properties only to be left in a terrible situation left with massive costs to remedy the defects, which have now been revealed with Grenfell.

The Northern Echo: Andy McDonald, who has urged ministers to "stop pussyfooting around" and strip Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) of their contract

"They're being left with horrendous bills for keeping a watch on the property and there is a terrible tangle of insurers and warranties and they are left having to face this battle themselves."

Since being deemed 'dangerous' a programme of interim measures have been rolled out in a bid to ensure CIAC complies with regulations.

However, residents have been told they must pay for the remedial work through a significant hike in annual service charges.

Last month, a presentation held with residents and the building's management team, CRM, revealed estimated initial costs could be in excess of £250,000.

'It could potentially lead to bankruptcy'

Holly Shea, a resident who has lived in the CIAC building since 2012, said the exponential repair costs could leave her bankrupt. 

She said: "The meeting was an important milestone for us – we had a call with a lawyer and that lawyer gave us a lot of really good advice where he feels we have a claim with the build warranty.

"The longer this goes on the longer we're living in an unsafe home – but at the same time we don't have the funds to foot the work that needs to take place.

Freeholders E&J, which enlisted CRM to manage the building, confirmed the costs would fall to leaseholders, but said there was a building warranty in place against which a claim could be made.

However, at the meeting residents said they could not afford to pay the increased charges, set to be introduced before the claim is settled.

Ms Shea said: "I pay a service charge of £1,600 a year and the ground rent is £200 a year, those charges might triple in the immediate future.

"If you look at cases from other buildings facing these issues they are racking up bills in total of millions of pounds.

"If I don't pay the service charge, I would be in forfeit of my lease and that could mean they could take me to court to remove me from the flat and I would still have a mortgage to pay. It could potentially lead to bankruptcy."

'The Grenfell Inquiry will be relevant to CIAC residents'

Mr McDonald said it was 'wrong' to allow those responsible to face thousands of pounds in costs.

He said: "It’s entirely wrong to leave people adrift and having to face bills that can ill-afford to sustain.

"I’m going to be speaking to my colleague John Healey who has served as the housing minister and is our shadow currently, and also speaking to lawyers who have played a huge part in the Grenfell Inquiry.

"The Grenfell Inquiry goes on to the second stage next year and that is going to be highly relevant to the CIAC residents to reveal exactly where this has gone wrong in terms of building regulation approval, and warranties to put things right when they do go wrong."

Last month, a spokesperson for E&J said the firm had sympathy for residents and said 'reasonable steps' were being taken to assess and carry out neccesary works. 

The spokesperson said the assessment was on-going and that it was 'too early' to determine what was needed.