Minister speaks at LEASE building safety event

LEASE held an in-person building safety event at King’s Place, London on 28 January 2026. The event was fully booked, with more than 100 leaseholders attending to hear updates and share their experiences.

The evening brought together leaseholders, government representatives and sector experts to discuss current building safety issues and what they mean in practice. The focus throughout was on clear information, practical guidance and open discussion.

The first keynote address was delivered by Samantha Dixon, Minister for Building Safety, Fire and Democracy.

The Minister made clear that increasing housing supply must not come at the expense of safety and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to remediating unsafe buildings. There is, the Minister said, no justification for buildings to remain unsafe.

The Minister acknowledged the financial and emotional strain that many leaseholders continue to face, particularly where remediation has been delayed. Ongoing government funding for cladding remediation was highlighted, alongside further legislation and consultations that are planned or underway, including a new Remediation Bill.

As of November 2025, 2,741 buildings had either started or completed remediation works.

Charlie Pugsley, Acting Chief Executive of the Building Safety Regulator, followed with an overview of the Regulator’s role.

Charlie described the Regulator as central to embedding a system that prioritises safety throughout a building’s lifecycle.

Recent improvements were highlighted, including the publication of regular performance data, clearer assessment criteria and greater openness about how decisions are made.

It was acknowledged that the system has at times felt unclear to residents. The Regulator committed to clearer expectations, measurable progress and continued engagement with leaseholders, including returning to future LEASE events to report back on developments.

Free online training for high-rise residential directors, developed jointly by the Regulator and LEASE, was also highlighted.

A chaired panel discussion explored how building safety arrangements are working in practice and how the courts are approaching cases under the Building Safety Act.

Panellists included journalist and author Pete Apps; Professor Susan Bright of New College, Oxford; Giles Grover of End Our Cladding Scandal; and Ritu Saha of UK Cladding Action Group.

A consistent theme was that, while the law has changed, the impact on leaseholders remains uneven and often challenging. Panellists spoke about the legal, financial and personal pressures involved in navigating building safety requirements.

Discussion focused on the importance of understanding who is legally responsible for a building, whether statutory protections apply, and what funding routes may be available. Leaseholders were encouraged to scrutinise service charges and safety-related costs carefully, ask for clear explanations and evidence, and keep detailed records.

The panel also discussed collective action and external engagement. It was noted that some leaseholders have raised unresolved concerns with managing agents, freeholders, regulators and MPs, and in some cases through the media, particularly where other routes have not led to resolution.

The event concluded with facilitated breakout sessions led by senior LEASE advisers. These sessions gave attendees the opportunity to ask questions and explore issues affecting their own buildings in more detail.

LEASE is grateful to all speakers and panellists for their contributions, and to the leaseholders who attended and shared their experiences.

Further guidance and resources on building safety are available on the LEASE website.