MPs will today debate a new law that could see leaseholders at Crown Heights shielded from the cost of works to make their building safe.

More than 30 Conservative MPs, including Maria Miller, have signed the amendment to the Fire Safety Bill, which is intended to strengthen regulation in the wake of the Grenfell Tower disaster.

It returns to the House of Commons on Wednesday and MPs say it is essential to prevent leaseholders suddenly being presented with bills potentially running to tens of thousands of pounds with just weeks to pay.

The Gazette revealed earlier this month how leaseholders at Crown Heights were likely to be faced with a bill for remedial work and interim fire safety measures brought in after the building's safety issues were found in December 2020.

FirstPort, the property manager of Crown Heights, have said that a reserve fund will "help to cover this cost", but have not guaranteed that leaseholders will not be expected to cover the costs should this not be enough.

It is believed that defects on Crown Heights - which include combustible material in the external walls and no fire breaks - do fit the narrow scope needed to qualify for this Bill, but there has not been confirmation.

Steve McPartland, who tabled the amendment with fellow Tory Royston Smith, said under the terms of the legislation, many freeholders could simply pass on the costs of any remedial work they were ordered to carry out by the Fire Service.

“Depending on the terms of the lease and the costs involved, this could easily be a requirement for a leaseholder to pay £50,000 within weeks,” he said in a message posted on his website urging MPs to back the move.

While the numbers so far supporting the amendment are insufficient to overturn the Government’s majority as only English MPs will vote on the legislation, Mr McPartland urged ministers to either accept the change or come forward with their own proposals.

Downing Street has signalled that it intends to resist the change, insisting that it has already put in place a “large package” of support for leaseholders living in blocks covered in dangerous cladding.

In a message to potential rebels, the Prime Minister’s press secretary Allegra Stratton told reporters: “We think the package we have come forward with is the right balance and will sort this issue for them and their constituents.”

Mr McPartland was fiercely critical of the package announced earlier this month, describing it has a “betrayal” of hundreds of thousands of residents of low and medium rise blocks who would be forced to take out large loans to pay for the removal of cladding.

He said housing secretary Robert Jenrick had ignored the continuing need for “waking watches” and the “excessive” insurance premiums which represent the main costs for many leaseholders.