Dozens of residents in buildings with flammable cladding have contemplated suicide, survey finds

Issues have ‘hugely affected’ mental health of nearly eight in 10 respondents, writes Samuel Osborne

At least 300 high-rise residential and publicly owned buildings with ACM cladding in England yet to be remedied (AFP/Getty)

Dozens of people living in buildings with dangerous cladding have contemplated suicide, according to a survey.

Nearly three years after the Grenfell Tower fire, homeowners in residential blocks covered with such flammable materials have spoken of suicidal thoughts, insomnia, and deteriorating mental health, according to the survey, carried out by the campaigning UK Cladding Action Group (UKCAG).

Many homeowners are stuck in properties that cannot be mortgaged or sold, paying large sums for temporary fire safety measures, and facing bills of tens of thousands of pounds to complete removal work.