Persimmon homes found with 'fire safety issues' - report

Houses developed by Persimmon have potentially dangerous fire safety issues, according to a BBC report on Wednesday.

New-builds constructed by the firms were sold with missing or incorrectly installed fire barriers, which are designed to inhibit the spread of fire, the broadcaster's Watchdog consumer affairs programme reported, adding that in some cases, it was believed a lack of barriers contributed to the spread of fires that destroyed homes.

The programme cited Sarah Dennis, a resident at the Persimmon Homes Greenacres development in Exeter, where a fire in April 2018 started by a cigarette dropped at ground level spread up to the roof of a house and then to adjacent properties.

"Neighbours asked if we could smell smoke. Went inside to check on the kids, there was smoke in the bedroom, Firemen arrived within a couple of minutes. Just a bit of smoke coming from the back and the next minute it was engulfed in flames," she said.

Subsequent investigations by Persimmon Homes found missing fire barriers at 37% of homes on the Greenacres estate, the report stated.

In Coventry, a Persimmon Homes building containing around 48 apartments was evacuated in 2018 after the discovery of a number of defects including missing fire barriers. Some residents are still living in temporary accommodation while retrofitting and other works are carried out, the report added.

Persimmon confirmed that since the issues in the South West came to light it had written to 3200 home owners in the region and set up a "dedicated team" to carry out inspections.

It said that, in total, 2700 properties have been inspected, and remedial work has been carried out at 679 homes. The company said sample checks were also being conducted nationwide, saying "if these inspections indicate that we need to inspect every timber frame property then we will do so."

Building Regulations require that by law new homes are built with fire protection measures to delay the spread of fire and allow crucial time for escape.

The revelations come as the company mounts an intensive campaign so rebuild its image after an executive pay scandal, multiple complaints from customers over the quality of its work and a furore around onerous leasehold terms on new build properties.