Shabana has written to constituents informing them that she has signed the McPartland Smith amendment to the Fire Safety Bill.

Over the last few weeks, Shabana has been lobbied by constituents trapped in leasehold properties affected by the cladding scandal, asking her to consider supporting the proposed amendment.

The Amendment seeks to insert a new Clause that prohibits the passing on of remediation costs to leaseholders.

After listening to the groundswell of support from leaseholders she has added her signature to the McPartland Smith Amendment.

You can read her letter in full below.

Letter to constituents

Dear Constituent

Thank you for previously writing to me regarding the cladding scandal.

Over the last few weeks, I have been lobbied extensively by constituents regarding amendments to the Fire Safety Bill. Those trapped in leasehold properties affected by the cladding scandal or other fire safety defects, through no fault of their own, have been in touch asking me to consider supporting the McPartland Smith Amendment to the Fire Safety Bill.

The Amendment seeks to insert a new Clause that prohibits the passing on of remediation costs to leaseholders. As it stands the Amendment also protects leaseholders from being liable for remediation costs if they are also the owner or part owner of the freehold of an affected building.

As many of you are aware, I have campaigned on the cladding scandal for some time in support of leaseholders in Birmingham Ladywood and across the country. You can see a snapshot of this work on my website: https://www.shabanamahmood.org/category/housing/

After listening to the groundswell of support from leaseholders on this particular point I am pleased to inform you that I have added my name as signatory to the McPartland Smith Amendment.

I will continue to support this amendment in principle on the basis that concessions will not be made to the Government that changes its existing wording or intention. My conditional support will change should concessions be made, and I will seek to back any similar amendments that intend to protect leaseholders from the burden of remediation costs. It remains to be seen if the Government will accept this Amendment when the Bill returns to Parliament, or if it will use its majority to vote it down.

I firmly believe that it is time for the building industry to step up to its responsibilities, and work to address its failures on the cladding scandal. Please be assured my unwavering support for constituents affected by the cladding scandal continues.

Thank you again for writing to me. Please do not hesitate to contact me again regarding this or any other issue.

Yours sincerely

Shabana Mahmood

Birmingham Ladywood