Written question WQ87632
- Asked by
- Janet Finch-SaundersConservative
- To be answered by
- Minister for Climate Change
- Tabled
- Due
- Answered
- Time to answer
- 12 days
Question
Will the Minister undertake discussions with the UK Government about the fact that since 14 June 2017 leaseholders in un-remediated apartment blocks in Wales have only been able to convert their mortgage to permission to let by moving abroad?
Answer
Answered by Minister for Climate Change
It is right that provisions to improve the issues leaseholders are experiencing in respect of building insurance is not being pursued via UK wide legislation.
That said, my officials meet with UK Government and the devolved administrations fortnightly to discuss matters of building safety, including insurance.
In addition to this, a number of meetings have been held between my officials and UK Government officials to discuss insurance in the context of recommendations of the Financial Conduct Authority Report on Insurance of Multi Occupancy Buildings, issued in September 2022. This includes working with the UK Government as they develop legislation around transparency in Managing Agents insurance charges and commissions.
My officials and I continue to engage directly with UK Finance and the Association of British Insurers to ensure leaseholders have access to financial products, such as mortgages.
In Wales, buildings continue to be assessed on a case-by-case basis and my officials and I are working together with the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors and UK Finance to ensure mortgage applications are considered for properties in Wales of 11 metres and over, which are covered by our agreements with developers and the Welsh Building Safety Fund.