Cladding: Flat owner says lives are at risk after London fire

Mr Larwood, 74, who has lived in Victoria Wharf for six years, told Taylor Wimpey in a letter that the Dagenham fire “highlights the way residents are still at risk until work is completed”.

“Taylor Wimpey, along with the managing agents FirstPort, and the freeholder E&M, have pontificated for far too long over the work required at VW.”

He accused them of “constant delay tactics”, adding: “The mediocre excuses put forward for such delay is inexcusable.”

“Stop putting innocent people’s lives at risk, from the very failings Taylor Wimpey themselves created, by not doing things properly in the first place.”

Mr Larwood, a retired fraud investigator, told BBC Wales: “The trouble is, the Dagenham fire has destroyed 80 homes.

“When you see something like that happen it brings it home to you that something has to be done.

“It makes you think something like this could happen here. We pray it doesn’t.”

Mr Larwood said charges from management company First Port have doubled and he now pays £4,560 annually for a two bed apartment and some three beds are nearly £7,000.

A Taylor Wimpey letter, sent to Mr Larwood in October 2023 and seen by BBC Wales, said that the company had promised to begin work at the flats in December of that year.

“Unfortunately, this will now be pushed to the first quarter of 2024,” the letter said.

The first quarter of 2024 ended on 31 March.