Government's recent announcement on fire safety - statement from Paul Hackett, Optivo Chief Executive

18 February 2021

The government’s recent announcements on fire safety included some positive news, including welcome additional funding. We’ll review the detailed guidance when it’s released to see how this could support Optivo’s fire safety programme and protect our leaseholders.

With this new funding focused on cladding replacement, housing associations and our leaseholders still face uncertainty over who’ll pick up the bill for wider fire safety costs.

We’ll continue to work with the National Housing Federation and G15 to call for more funding to be made available. And we’ll continue to argue that all housing blocks should be eligible for full financial support, not just those over 18 metres.

Without these changes, housing associations will have to divert funding away from services for social housing residents and from building new affordable homes. And leaseholders will still face a lack of certainty over fire safety costs.

Paul Hackett, Chief Executive at Optivo

* If you're a resident affected by the government's updated advice notes on building safety, visit our web page here.