Waking watches are a mandatory requirement by many fire authorities in order to allow buildings to remain occupied and can reach costs of £1,000 per month for every flat in an affected building.
The cost is currently met by leaseholders in many privately rented buildings. As people self-isolate due to the viral pandemic, cladding action groups claim that leaseholders are struggling to meet these costs.
Building owners, managers, or responsible persons with any doubt about the suitability of a waking watcher should immediately contact the local Fire and Rescue Service (FRS).
The waking watch costs are in addition to insurance premiums at many buildings, neither of which are covered by recent budget provisions which are for the removal of existing cladding only.