In short
- Most 11m+ buildings with unsafe cladding are in a government scheme, the developer remediation contract or a social landlord programme.
- The Cladding Safety Scheme (Homes England) covers 11m+ buildings, and was used for new under-11m funding announced in July 2026.
- Applications need a PAS 9980 FRAEW and come from the responsible entity, not leaseholders.
- Remediation orders and remediation contribution orders can pursue those responsible.
Start with the right question
Before asking "who pays?", be sure what needs doing. A PAS 9980 FRAEW decides whether the external wall risk is tolerable and what remediation is proportionate – and it's needed for every funding route. See what an FRAEW is.
The main cladding remediation funding routes
Government data for September 2026 tracks more than 4,700 residential buildings of 11 metres and over with unsafe cladding across five routes:
| Route | Scope | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| ACM programme | 18m+ buildings with ACM cladding | The original post-Grenfell programme, now largely complete |
| Building Safety Fund (BSF) | 18m+ residential buildings with an application proceeding | Government funding for buildings already in the scheme |
| Cladding Safety Scheme (CSS) | 11m+ residential buildings, run by Homes England | The main scheme for buildings without a developer paying |
| Developer remediation contract | 11m+ buildings built or refurbished by signatory developers | The developer must fix or pay for life-critical defects |
| Social housing self-funded | 11m+ social housing | Registered providers fund remediation themselves |
Funding for buildings under 11 metres
In July 2026 the government announced funding for unsafe cladding on multi-occupied residential buildings under 11 metres, delivered through the Cladding Safety Scheme. It opened on 17 August 2026 for an eight-week application window. Eligibility required two or more dwellings and life-safety risks identified by an FRAEW. Applications came from the responsible entity, which had to confirm it had explored other routes such as insurance, developer contributions and warranties. Funding was prioritised by risk. Check with Homes England for any further rounds.
Who applies
Applications are made by the responsible entity – usually the freeholder, landlord or resident management company – or an authorised representative. Leaseholders and residents can't apply directly, but they can press the responsible entity to act.
What you'll need
- A PAS 9980 FRAEW identifying the life-safety risk
- Building information – height, storeys, number of dwellings, ownership and who built it
- Evidence that other routes (developer, insurance, warranty) have been explored
- A proportionate scope of works and, later, cost information
Legal routes to recover costs
The Building Safety Act 2022 gave new tools:
- Remediation orders can require a landlord to fix relevant defects
- Remediation contribution orders can require developers and associated companies to pay towards remediation
- Leaseholder protections limit what many leaseholders can be charged for historical safety defects
Other routes include claims against contractors, designers and insurers, and warranty claims.
The new legal duty
The Remediation of Unsafe Cladding Bill, introduced on 14 October 2026, proposes a legal duty to remediate life-critical external wall risks on buildings over 11 metres, with penalties for failing to act. Funding and duty will increasingly go together – see our guide to the bill.
Avoiding common mistakes
- Over-scoping – removing more than the risk requires wastes money and delays work. A peer review can help.
- Starting works before funding is agreed, which can jeopardise eligibility
- Poor resident communication, which slows access for surveys and works
- Weak oversight, leading to defects hidden behind new cladding
Our cladding remediation support covers funding applications, project management and independent oversight, and our FRAEW service provides the appraisal every route needs.
How we can help
We match each project to a qualified specialist and confirm the scope, the named professional and a fixed fee before you commit.
Sources
- GOV.UK – Building Safety Remediation: monthly data release, September 2026
- BCLP – Building safety: latest July 2026 updates
- Hamlins – Government introduces Remediation of Unsafe Cladding Bill
This guide is general information based on the law and guidance in England as at 8 November 2026. It isn't legal advice – for advice on a specific building, get in touch.