The Government has announced an extension of cladding funding to buildings under 11 metres, marking the first time dangerous cladding will be removed from low-rise structures.
The funding will be channelled through the existing Cladding Safety Scheme, with support prioritised for buildings that pose the greatest risk to life rather than focusing primarily on height. Lower-rise buildings have not been covered by existing leaseholder protections, leaving some residents facing substantial bills for safety defects.
Risk-based prioritisation
The announcement represents a shift in how buildings are prioritised for remediation, with the Government ranking properties by risk level following the Grenfell Inquiry. Building Safety Minister Samantha Dixon stated that residents should not be left worrying about flammable cladding simply because their building does not meet height thresholds for funding.
Dixon added that the measures aim to streamline processes to minimise delays and clarify responsibilities. The approach mirrors broader challenges in the housing sector, where regulatory and funding uncertainties continue to impact market activity.
Concerns over implementation
Campaign group EndOurCladdingScandal has criticised the announcement as insufficient. Giles Grover, representing the organisation, described the measures as “a small step forward” but expressed concerns about limited funding creating prolonged delays.
“With limited funding, it risks becoming another narrow, bureaucratic scheme: giving people hope only to lock them into more years of delay,” Grover stated. The group warned that a risk-based approach must speed up remediation rather than ration support or force costs onto leaseholders in buildings deemed lower priority.
The campaign group emphasised the need for proper oversight to prevent leaseholders and resident management companies from facing protracted disputes with freeholders, housing associations, developers and managing agents. This adds to existing pressures on leaseholders, who are already navigating wider affordability challenges in the property market.
Market implications
The funding extension comes nearly four years after the case-by-case approach was introduced for buildings under 11 metres. The prolonged uncertainty has affected property values and mortgage availability for affected buildings, with many leaseholders unable to sell or remortgage their properties.
The Government has not disclosed the total funding allocation for low-rise buildings or provided timelines for when remediation work will commence. Industry professionals will be monitoring whether the risk-based prioritisation delivers faster outcomes than previous height-based criteria.