Labourâs figures on the cladding crisis are far too high 10 February 2021 Our verdict This estimate is much too high. The true number of residents affected is probably more like 760,000. Landlords of another 600,000 properties will also be affected. The total will be much less than 11 million, which seems to be more than all the people living in flats in the UK. While it is true that many people in the UK may be affected by this issue, the estimate of 11 million is far too high. Indeed it probably amounts to more than all the people who live in flats in the UK.