Recommendation 22

While leaseholders have been unable to move or remortgage, some have seen their insurances premiums rise significantly. For those in buildings with serious fire safety defects, there are examples of premiums rising by over 400%.69 This is on top of other additional costs faced by leaseholders. In response to the concerns that we raised with the Department with insurance premiums, it told us that it does not collect insurance data systematically. It told us that this is a challenging area but it is “working closely with the sector to see what further solutions are available that could mitigate some of the costs on leaseholders”.70 The Association of British Insurers wrote to us saying that it has been engaging with Department officials on interim solutions to premiums.71 Lack of skills