Translate the text from English to Welsh.



 
The Welsh Government is fully committed to making people safer in their homes. However, we must never become complacent or think our work to improve fire safety is done. This is why I am committed to delivering the building safety programme. I will make improvements where possible to the current building safety system and I am working to support the introduction of future comprehensive legislative reforms.


In Wales, we have a proven track record of achieving high standards in fire safety. Latest figures show that accidental dwelling fires in Wales are at an all\-time low. They have fallen by almost a quarter in the past 8 years, and fallen further here than anywhere else in Great Britain. But we are far from complacent.


Our world leading legislation ensuring all new and converted homes in Wales must have sprinklers has further increased fire safety in our homes. We know that sprinklers are the best means of saving lives in the event of a domestic fire, and I am working to further promote the use of sprinklers in existing homes.


Where buildings are built to appropriate building standards and appropriately maintained, they are, and will continue to be safe places to live and work. Unfortunately, where this is not the case, the safety of buildings and of those who live and work there can be compromised.


Although most high\-rise residential buildings in Wales are built to appropriate standards, over the past few months, I have been made aware of a number high\-rise residential buildings with significant building defects. Whether the problems relate to the building’s cladding, compartmentation between apartments or a lack of fire breaks they impact the overall integrity of the building and its fire safety. In the worst cases it is possible that in the unlikely event of a fire lives may be put at risk. This is unacceptable.


Some of these buildings were built in the past 10 to 15 years. These faults appear not to be caused by poor maintenance or neglect, but potentially as a result of poor workmanship, improper oversight and at times it seems, a disregard for building regulations.


Putting right these building defects is costly. Some high\-rise residential buildings have estimated remediation costs running into the millions.


I have been consistent in my message that leaseholders should not be expected to pay to rectify issues that constitute a failure to build to appropriate quality standards or where matters are in breach of building regulations.


However, in several cases that have recently come to my attention, it appears that warranties or insurance policies are unwilling or unable to accept liability and under the terms of some leasehold contracts, legal liability for the cost of the work appears to rest with the leaseholder.


Some leaseholders are now in a position where landlords and managing agents are demanding tens of thousands of pounds to pay for the necessary remediation works. This is entirely unfair on those who bought their properties in good faith, and are now facing significant financial strain.


Whilst the Welsh Government funded the public sector to replace non\-compliant Aluminium Composite Material (ACM) cladding \- the dangerous cladding on Grenfell Tower, taxpayers cannot be expected to fund failures in the construction of private sector residential buildings.


I believe that building owners and developers should face up to their moral responsibility and put right these faults, or else risk their professional reputation.


The recent media interest in this area will of course have caused concern for many living in high\-rise buildings. I would encourage residents and leaseholders to approach their landlord or managing agent in the first instance to seek reassurance by asking some key questions, such as:


* Is there an evacuation policy should a fire start in the building, and if so, what is it?
* Is there an agreed fire safety policy in place?
* When was the last fire risk assessment undertaken? What was the outcome? What action has been taken as a result?
* Has the landlord or managing agent been in contact with the local authority and/or Fire and Rescue Service to discuss any evaluations of the building?
* If building defects or fire safety risks have been identified, how quickly will they be rectified and what necessary mitigating actions need to be in place in the interim?


Challenging landlords and managing agents to ensure adequate plans are in place should give residents and leaseholders some peace of mind. If residents and leaseholders do not receive a satisfactory response, they should raise their concerns directly with the local authority or the Fire and Rescue Service.


I understand the frustration residents feel when told their homes are potentially unsafe and those with the responsibility for constructing or maintaining the building are unwilling or unable to help.


Local authorities and Fire and Rescue Services have legal duties and powers to help ensure properties are safe. Although the role of Welsh Government is limited in this area, I am determined to use the powers I have to improve fire safety before new legislation can be brought forwards.


I will provide an oral update to Members on 22 October.







Translation:


 
Mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn gwbl ymroddedig i sicrhau bod pobl yn fwy diogel yn eu cartrefi. Fodd bynnag, mae'n rhaid i ni beidio â llaesu dwylo na meddwl bod ein gwaith i wella diogelwch tân wedi'i gwblhau. Dyna'r rheswm pam rwyf mor ymrwymedig i ddarparu'r rhaglen diogelwch adeiladau. Byddaf yn gwneud gwelliannau lle y bo'n bosibl i'r system diogelwch adeiladau bresennol ac rwy’n gweithio i gefnogi'r broses o gyflwyno diwygiadau deddfwriaethol cynhwysfawr yn y dyfodol.


Yng Nghymru, mae gennym hanes o gyflawni safonau uchel o ran diogelwch tân. Mae'r ffigurau diweddaraf yn dangos bod tanau damweiniol mewn anheddau yng Nghymru yn is nag erioed. Maent wedi gostwng bron chwarter yn ystod yr wyth mlynedd diwethaf ac maent wedi gostwng ymhellach yma nag yn unrhyw le arall ym Mhrydain. Ond rydym ymhell o fod yn fodlon ar y sefyllfa.  


Mae ein deddfwriaeth o'r radd flaenaf sy'n sicrhau bod yn rhaid cael system chwistrellu ym mhob cartref newydd a phob cartref sydd wedi'i addasu yng Nghymru wedi cynyddu diogelwch tân ymhellach yn ein cartrefi. Rydym yn gwybod mai system chwistrellu yw'r ffordd orau o achub bywydau os ceir tân domestig, ac rwy'n gweithio i hyrwyddo ymhellach y defnydd o system chwistrellu mewn cartrefi presennol. 


Pan gaiff adeiladau eu hadeiladu i'r safonau adeiladu priodol a'u cynnal a'u cadw'n briodol, maent yn lleoedd da i fyw a gweithio ynddynt a byddant yn parhau i fod felly. Yn anffodus, pan nad yw hyn yn wir, gellir tanseilio diogelwch adeiladau a pheryglu'r rheini sy'n byw ac yn gweithio ynddynt. 


Er bod y rhan fwyaf o adeiladau preswyl uchel yng Nghymru wedi'u hadeiladu i'r safonau priodol, dros y misoedd diwethaf rwyf wedi cael gwybod am nifer o adeiladau preswyl uchel â diffygion adeiladu sylweddol. P'un a yw'r problemau'n ymwneud â chladin yr adeilad, y rhaniad rhwng fflatiau neu brinder rhwystrau tân, maent yn effeithio ar gydlyniad cyffredinol yr adeilad a’i ddiogelwch tân. Yn yr achosion gwaethaf, mae’n golygu, pe bai tân yn dechrau, sy’n annhebygol, ond yn bosibl, y gallai bywydau fod mewn perygl. Mae hyn yn annerbyniol. 


Adeiladwyd rhai o'r adeiladau hyn yn ystod y 10 neu 15 mlynedd diwethaf. Yn hytrach na chael eu hachosi gan waith cynnal a chynnal gwael neu esgeulustod, mae'n ymddangos bod y namau hyn, o bosibl, yn deillio o grefftwaith gwael, goruchwyliaeth amhriodol ac, mae'n ymddangos ar adegau, ddiffyg parch at reoliadau adeiladu. 


Mae unioni'r diffygion adeiladu hyn yn gostus. Amcangyfrifir y bydd adfer rhai adeiladau preswyl uchel yn costio miliynau o bunnoedd. 


Rwyf wedi cyfleu'n gyson na ddylid disgwyl i lesddeiliaid dalu i unioni problemau sy'n deillio o fethiant i adeiladu i safonau ansawdd priodol nac achosion sy'n torri rheoliadau adeiladu. 


Fodd bynnag, mewn sawl achos sydd wedi dod i'm sylw yn ddiweddar, mae’n ymddangos nad yw'r gwarantau neu'r polisïau yswiriant perthnasol yn barod i dderbyn atebolrwydd neu na allant wneud hynny, ac o dan delerau rhai contractau lesddaliadau, mae'n ymddangos bod y lesddeiliad yn atebol yn ôl y gyfraith am gost y gwaith.


Mae rhai lesddeiliaid bellach mewn sefyllfa lle mae landlordiaid ac asiantiaid rheoli yn mynnu degau ar filoedd o bunnoedd i dalu am y gwaith adfer angenrheidiol. Mae hyn yn gwbl annheg â'r rheini sydd wedi prynu eu heiddo gyda phob ewyllys da ac sydd bellach yn wynebu straen ariannol sylweddol. 


Er i Lywodraeth Cymru ariannu'r sector cyhoeddus i gael gwared ar gladin Deunydd Cyfansawdd Alwminiwm nad oedd yn cydymffurfio â’r safonau – sef y cladin peryglus ar Dŵr Grenfell – ni ellir disgwyl i drethdalwyr ariannu methiannau wrth adeiladu adeiladau preswyl sector preifat. 


Credaf y dylai perchnogion adeiladau a datblygwyr ysgwyddo eu cyfrifoldeb moesol ac unioni'r diffygion hyn, neu fel arall byddant yn peryglu eu henw proffesiynol da. 


Bydd diddordeb diweddar y cyfryngau yn y maes hwn wrth gwrs wedi peri pryder i'r rheini sy'n byw mewn adeiladau uchel. Byddwn yn annog preswylwyr a lesddeiliaid i fynd at eu landlord neu eu hasiant rheoli yn y lle cyntaf i geisio sicrwydd drwy ofyn rhai cwestiynau allweddol, megis: 


* A oes polisi gadael yr adeilad petai tân ar waith? Os oes polisi, beth yw'r polisi?
* A oes polisi diogelwch tân cytunedig ar waith?
* Pryd y cynhaliwyd yr asesiad risg tân diwethaf? Beth oedd y canlyniad? Pa gamau gweithredu sydd wedi cael eu cymryd o ganlyniad?
* A yw'r landlord neu'r asiant rheoli wedi cysylltu â'r awdurdod lleol a/neu'r Gwasanaeth Tân ac Achub i drafod unrhyw werthusiadau o'r adeilad?
* Os nodwyd diffygion adeiladu neu risgiau diogelwch tân, pa mor gyflym y cânt eu hunioni, a pha gamau lliniarol y mae angen eu sefydlu yn y cyfamser?


Dylai herio landlordiaid ac asiantiaid rheoli er mwyn sicrhau bod cynlluniau digonol ar waith roi rhywfaint o dawelwch meddwl i breswylwyr a lesddeiliaid. Os nad yw preswylwyr a lesddeiliaid yn cael ymateb boddhaol, dylent fynegi eu pryderon yn uniongyrchol i'r awdurdod lleol neu'r Gwasanaeth Tân ac Achub. 


Rwy'n deall y rhwystredigaeth y mae preswylwyr yn ei theimlo pan ddywedir wrthynt nad yw eu cartrefi, o bosibl, yn ddiogel ac nad yw'r sawl â'r cyfrifoldeb am adeiladu neu gynnal a chadw'r adeilad yn barod i helpu, neu na all helpu. 


Mae dyletswyddau cyfreithiol ar awdurdodau lleol a Gwasanaethau Tân ac Achub i helpu i sicrhau bod eiddo yn ddiogel ac mae ganddynt y pwerau i wneud hynny. Er bod rôl Llywodraeth Cymru yn gyfyngedig yn y maes hwn, rwy'n benderfynol o ddefnyddio'r pwerau sydd gennyf i wella diogelwch tân cyn y gellir cyflwyno deddfwriaeth newydd. 


Byddaf yn rhoi diweddariad llafar gerbron yr Aelodau ar 22 Hydref.