It’s been nearly eight years since the Grenfell Tower fire shocked the nation. An avoidable tragedy that cost 72 lives, Grenfell was meant to be a turning point – one of those moments where policy, practice and accountability finally come together. In reality, that turning point is still turning.
Despite changes to legislation, new frameworks and greater public scrutiny, there are worrying signs that the construction standards on many developments remain well below what the public reasonably expects. And in some cases, dangerously so.

This Tuesday’s Property Matters podcast lifts the lid on why substandard construction continues to feature across the UK, and why the legacy of Grenfell – so often spoken about in official circles – has yet to be fully respected on the ground.

The safety measures introduced post-Grenfell weren’t just procedural. They were, in many cases, matters of life and death. Yet there are developers today still pushing back on those very requirements, lobbying for exemptions, resisting transparency, or simply carrying on as if little has changed.
It’s left buyers, residents and even professionals scratching their heads. What happened to the promises? Where’s the real oversight? And who, in 2025, is genuinely making sure that lessons have been learned and applied?

There’s also the thorny question of regulation versus enforcement. It’s one thing to have rules on the books. It’s quite another to see them actively upheld – especially when project deadlines, commercial interests, or fragmented responsibilities cloud the process.

In this week’s episode, Gareth Wax is back in the chair, joined by conveyancing collaborator Hamish McLay, for a conversation that won’t shy away from the realities. Whether it’s weak oversight, risk delegation, or grey areas within compliance sign-offs, the podcast explores where things are going wrong and what’s still missing in the bigger picture.

At the heart of it is a simple question – how far does responsibility stretch? In a multi-layered build environment involving developers, main contractors, sub-contractors, and inspectors, who actually takes ownership for the result? Too often, when problems are found, it’s a game of pass-the-parcel.

The impact on consumers is significant. Buyers, tenants, even experienced property professionals are struggling to verify what they’re buying into. Fire safety certifications, risk assessments and remediation plans are frequently withheld, miscommunicated, or issued with no guarantee they’ll be acted on. It’s left many in limbo – legally owning a flat they don’t feel safe in.

We’re also seeing disparity in how councils and regulators enforce compliance. While some authorities have taken bold stances – serving demolition notices or pursuing large settlements – others appear more reluctant or under-resourced to act decisively. This inconsistency creates further confusion and erodes trust in the system.

Property Matters will be drawing on real examples and lived experience to open up the conversation – not just about buildings, but about what kind of property system we want to have going forward.

Do standards matter more than speed? Should we be demanding greater transparency around safety documentation and sign-off processes? And how do we support professionals trying to guide clients safely through a market where the risks aren’t always visible?

We’re not pointing fingers – just pointing out that in many areas, the same issues that allowed Grenfell to happen have not been fully resolved.
Join us live on Tuesday 3rd June at 1pm as we ask whether regulation, responsibility and reality have finally caught up with each other – or whether we’re still falling short.

Watch live or catch up on our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@SpillingTheProper-Tea

PS:
For content enquiries: hm@searchandconveysolutions.co.uk
For podcast/media info: gareth@mphats.com