There has been coverage in BBC News Online, Inside Housing, Essex Live, Property Week and The Comet following the news that the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities has won a landmark legal challenge against freeholder Grey GR - forcing it to fix serious building safety issues in Vista Tower in Stevenage.
Legal action was launched by the Government against Grey GR in October 2022 following unacceptable delays in fixing multiple serious fire safety issues, first identified in the building in 2019. The Vista Tower case was the first legal action brought by the Government under robust new powers introduced through the Building Safety Act 2022.
Following the trial in March, the Court has decided in favour of the Government and will issue a Remediation Order imposing a legally binding requirement on Grey GR to fix building safety issues within a mandated timeframe.
Following commencement of legal action, Grey started work on Vista Tower in January 2024. The Remediation Order will provide an exact date by which the work must be completed or Grey could face sanction by the Court.
Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove said:
Leaseholders have lived with uncertainty for far too long while Grey GR delayed essential works to make homes safe. This decision is a victory for leaseholders in Vista Tower and across the country.
It is hugely disappointing that Railpen - the ultimate owner of Grey GR and who manage £34bn in ‘assets’ - has kept leaseholders in limbo in this way. Railway workers with their pensions invested in this fund, as well as innocent leaseholders, deserve better.
This court case should serve as a warning to all building owners. If you fail to fix your unsafe buildings and ensure the safety of residents, we will see you in court. We will not stop until we secure justice for leaseholders.