The government has announced new funding to remove dangerous cladding from lower-rise buildings under 11 metres with serious fire safety risks, affecting leaseholders who are not covered by existing protections.
Key facts
- Who: Leaseholders and residents in buildings under 11 metres with unsafe cladding; building owners and landlords
- From: 9 July 2026 (announced)
- Source: Expanded support for residents living with unsafe cladding
On 9 July 2026 the government announced new funding to remove dangerous cladding from lower-rise buildings that carry serious fire safety risks. The money is for buildings under 11 metres and will be part of the existing Cladding Safety Scheme, with support prioritised for those facing the greatest risk.
The government says serious cladding problems are less common in lower-rise buildings, and that these buildings are not covered by existing leaseholder protections. As a result, leaseholders can be left facing large bills to fix safety problems they did not cause. The new funding is intended to protect them from those costs.
The funding is part of a wider change to how buildings are prioritised for remediation. Instead of focusing mainly on height, the government will prioritise buildings according to the risk they pose to residents, so those with the most serious safety concerns are addressed first. The announcement delivers on commitments in the Remediation Acceleration Plan. An upcoming Remediation Bill is intended to go further in ensuring landlords deliver on their responsibility to fix unsafe buildings.
Insurance review
The government has welcomed a review by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) into how insurance premiums for buildings with fire safety risks have changed since the FCA brought in new rules in 2023. The review will look at:
- how insurers' pricing approaches have changed over time;
- how firms are considering leaseholders' interests when assessing whether their products deliver fair value; and
- how building remediation work is being taken into account in insurers' risk assessments.
Regulatory changes
Following discussions with industry and resident groups, the government also confirmed changes to building safety regulation. These include plans for a new Single Construction Regulator to bring together different parts of the building regulation system, and changes to make it simpler for the Building Safety Regulator to issue Building Assessment Certificates, with clearer guidance for building owners. A new consultation on making emergency works easier has been launched, and two consultation responses have been published, on telecommunications work and on ensuring existing buildings can move through the regulatory process more swiftly.
What this means for leaseholders
Buildings under 11 metres are not covered by existing leaseholder protections, and this announcement is aimed at that gap. Leaseholders worried about cladding may wish to check what their landlord or managing agent has said about fire safety work, keep copies of any bills or notices they receive, and get advice before any deadline to pay or respond passes.
Sources
- Expanded support for residents living with unsafe cladding, GOV.UK, 9 July 2026: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/expanded-support-for-residents-living-with-unsafe-cladding