OVERHEATING in buildings in remediation is a “serious risk to health and potentially life,” leasehold groups warned the Housing Secretary Steve Reed today.

The government was asked to urgently address a gap in public health guidelines leaving residents at risk of overheating as amber heat alerts were issued for large parts of Britain this week.

In an open letter to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) and trade bodies, End Our Cladding Scandal (EOCS), the Shared Owners’ Network and the Non-Qualifying Leaseholders campaign group highlighted “inconsistent” application of existing protections.

Pointing to current requirements for “reasonable steps” to be taken for buildings in remediation, campaigners warned of a “lack of oversight,” putting families and young children, as well as older and disabled people at risk.

The groups have urged the department to issue specific guidance for residents who face window opening and balcony access restrictions during remediation.

Trade bodies representing social housing, house builders and property managers were also called to make changes to protect life under the circumstances.

“We are very worried that there is no plain English guidance to address the distinct issue of dangerously hot living conditions at buildings undergoing remediation,” the letter read.

“Where window opening restrictions and/or restrictions on balcony access are in place during remediation, this clearly affects the ambient temperature inside people’s homes.

“While these measures may have been introduced to address one safety risk, they are creating another immediate health risk by preventing residents from adequately ventilating their homes.”

A MHCLG spokesperson said: “Those responsible for delivering remediation, including developers, must take all necessary steps to support residents during periods of extreme heat.”

They added they had “written to developers to ask them to urgently review their current arrangements.”