The Wandsworth Council leader appealed directly to Chancellor Phillip Hammond to provide financial support for the fitting of sprinklers in high-rise buildings, after outrage from leaseholders over a £4000 charge each for the installation.

Ravi Govindia’s letter to Hammond is a response to the group of over 1000 leaseholders refusing to pay and even threatening legal action.

The letter suggests that the council is reconsidering the mandate, but as of now the charge still stands.

Because of the Grenfell Tower tragedy, Wandsworth Council had set aside £30 million for fitting fire-safety measures in high-rise flats, covering the costs for council tenets, but not the leaseholders.

“Wandsworth…has over 1,358 leaseholders who would have to contribute towards these safety measures and not all will be able to afford the cost,” read Govindia’s letter. “You have said that you will not allow financial constraints to get in the way of any essential fire safety work, and we would like to request Government support to cover the costs for leaseholders and help ease the financial burden for them.”

The installations apply to all blocks of at least ten storeys, of which Wandsworth has 99, with over 6400 flats.

Most tenets welcome the installation, especially in the wake of Grenfell, but cannot afford the cost.

One such resident, Chloe Lewis, said she was pleased about the installation, but when the announcement was made there was nothing to indicate they would have to pay for it. She contacted the council who told her: “Yes, you will have to pay.”

“Surely there is a more equitable way of funding a cost like this, especially if it is an essential safety measure,” Lewis said.