7. Plaid Cymru Debate: Housing Policy

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 4:30 pm on 16 June 2021.

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Photo of Rhys ab Owen Rhys ab Owen Plaid Cymru 4:30, 16 June 2021

Firstly, the properties are not sellable, Minister, and their value is virtually zero as they cannot gain EWS1 certification. Prospective purchasers then can't get a mortgage, so they can't sell. Yet, their council tax remains very high, some as high as group G. As council tax is based on the value of the property, and as councils are responsible for signing off these buildings and giving these buildings the building regs, and then allowing faulty buildings to have accreditation, should councils lower or even scrap council tax for these affected properties?  

Secondly, why has the Welsh Government not yet set up the remediation fund for buildings affected by the cladding scandal? We understand that the first tranche from the Westminster Government was used to tackle COVID, but it's been four years and the fund has not yet been established. Flat owners bought their flats in good faith. Can the Welsh Government guarantee that the fund, when set up, will cover both buildings in public ownership and owned by private individuals? 

Thirdly, how does the Welsh Government intend to pursue the developers whose shoddy workmanship and 'minimum legal standard' approach allowed this scandal to happen? Can they guarantee that they will follow the Australian approach, which gave money to the leaseholders first and then pursued the developer secondly? 

Fourthly, would the Welsh Government consider an extension for the deadline of land transaction tax refunds? This would be a huge source to alleviate the stress of the residents. And finally, will the Welsh Government work with Plaid Cymru to seek the powers to introduce a windfall tax on profits of large developments? People are in limbo. They are paralysed with fear and are thwarted by financial pressures. People can't renegotiate mortgages, people can't sell their flats, people have families to raise, and the memory of tragedies such as Grenfell tower haunt them day and night. They need urgency, they need answers from the Welsh Government. Diolch yn fawr.