Most owners do not pay for cladding work themselves.
Where a developer is responsible, the developer pays. Where none is, government funding may pay. And if you are a qualifying leaseholder, the law protects you from the cost of cladding work (Building Safety Act 2022, Schedule 8).
On this page
In short
Why we say this. Schedule 8 of the Building Safety Act 2022 protects qualifying leaseholders from the cost of cladding remediation (legislation.gov.uk, checked 26 October 2026). A freeholder or head leaseholder is the responsible entity and is not covered by that protection, so for them the developer or a government scheme is what pays.
- The developer pays where it signed up. Developers that signed the developer remediation contract must fix life-critical fire safety defects in buildings of 11 metres or more they built or refurbished in the 30 years to 4 April 2022 (the Responsible Actors Scheme, under the Building Safety Act 2022 ss.126 to 129, "building industry schemes"; GOV.UK).
- Otherwise, the Cladding Safety Scheme. Since 1 September 2025 it is the one route for new applications to fund unsafe cladding on residential buildings of 11 metres or more in England (GOV.UK). Homes England administers it for all buildings in England (overview, updated 21 Oct 2026), and GOV.UK says it covers London (Building Safety Fund page, updated 1 Sep 2025).
- Leaseholders are protected. Under a qualifying lease, no service charge is payable for cladding remediation (Building Safety Act 2022 Schedule 8 para 8), and charges for other defects are capped (Schedule 8 para 6), in buildings of at least 11 metres or 5 storeys with two or more homes (s.117).
Which route may apply
Answer in order. Stop at the first "yes" that fits, then check the last question too.
Four questions lead to a funding route: whether a signed-up developer built it, whether it is a residential building of 11 metres or more in England, whether it is under 11 metres, and whether an interim alarm is needed.
- Did a developer that signed the developer remediation contract build or refurbish it in the 30 years to 4 April 2022?Yes: the developer pays. No application. Not sure: the developer's name is on your title or building records, and the contract page lists the developers that signed.Developer remediation contractThe developer pays
- Is it a residential building of 11 metres or more in England?Yes: the Cladding Safety Scheme, in London too. The responsible entity applies.Cladding Safety SchemeOpen
- Is it under 11 metres?A separate funding round for buildings under 11 metres closed on 9 October 2026. Applications made before then are still assessed. For a new problem, ask your council what it can do.Cladding Safety Scheme: buildings under 11 mClosed
- Does a fire risk assessment or a fire risk appraisal of the external walls (FRAEW) say interim measures are needed?The Interim Measures Alarm Fund may pay for a whole-building fire alarm, as well as any route above.Interim Measures Alarm FundOpen
Who applies. The responsible entity: usually the freeholder, a head leaseholder, a management company or a registered provider. Leaseholders cannot apply. If you are a leaseholder, you are likely protected from the cost: see "If you are a leaseholder".
If none of these fits. A building that is not residential, or that no scheme covers, has no route here. Ask your council what it can do.
The routes
| Route | Status | Who applies | Buildings | GOV.UK source, last updated |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cladding Safety Scheme | OpenOpen. The one route for new cladding applications since 1 Sep 2025 | The responsible entity, through the Building Remediation Hub. Not leaseholders | Residential, 11 m or more, England: all buildings in England (overview, updated 21 Oct 2026), London included (Building Safety Fund page, updated 1 Sep 2025); social landlords since July 2025 | Collection, 21 Oct 2026; checked 26 October 2026 |
| Cladding Safety Scheme: buildings under 11 m | ClosedClosed on 9 Oct 2026. Applications made before then are assessed | The responsible entity | Under 11 m, where a fire risk appraisal of the external walls (FRAEW) found a serious, life-critical cladding risk | Buildings under 11 metres, 10 Oct 2026; checked 26 October 2026 |
| Interim Measures Alarm Fund | OpenOpen since 1 Apr 2026. Run by Homes England | The responsible entity or responsible person, or their agent. Not leaseholders | 2 or more homes, England, where an assessment says interim measures are needed; not hotels | Guidance, 11 Sep 2026; checked 26 October 2026 |
| Developer remediation contract (Responsible Actors Scheme) | The developer pays | No application: the developer is responsible | 11 m and over, built or refurbished in the 30 years to 4 Apr 2022 | Contract, 12 Oct 2026; checked 26 October 2026 |
| Building Safety Fund | ClosedClosed to new applications on 1 Sep 2025 | Existing applicants only | Was 18 m and over | Guidance, 1 Sep 2025; checked 26 October 2026 |
| ACM cladding funds (social and private) | ClosedClosed to new applications on 1 Sep 2025 | Existing applicants only | Was 18 m and over with ACM cladding | Social sector guidance, 1 Sep 2025; checked 26 October 2026 |
| Waking Watch Replacement Fund 2023 | ClosedClosed to new applications on 31 Mar 2026; replaced by the Interim Measures Alarm Fund | Existing applicants only | Buildings with a waking watch | Guidance, withdrawn 26 Jun 2026; checked 26 October 2026 |
What is changing
Remediation targets. The government aims for buildings of 18 metres and over in its schemes to be fixed by the end of 2029, and says 2031 will mark the natural end date for buildings of 11 to 18 metres. These are policy aims in the Remediation Acceleration Plan, not law (update of July 2025, last updated 11 Jun 2026).
A legal duty to fix unsafe cladding. The Building Safety (Remediation of Unsafe Cladding etc) Bill would require responsible entities to assess and fix life-critical external wall risks in residential buildings over 11 metres or with at least 5 storeys, completed before 28 June 2022. It is not yet law (GOV.UK guide, published 14 Oct 2026).
If you are a leaseholder
You cannot apply to these schemes yourself, but the law limits what you can be charged.
How Golden Ledger helps
You do not need to work out which route applies alone. The four questions above are the ones these schemes ask, and the height, address and number of homes you confirm for your council are the details an application starts with. Your council reviews that record. Golden Ledger does not apply for you, and it cannot promise funding.
Sources and checked date
The sources are the GOV.UK pages linked in the routes table and under What is changing, plus the Building Safety Act 2022 Schedule 8 and section 117 on legislation.gov.uk. One checked date applies to all of them, shown below.
Checked against GOV.UK on 26 October 2026. Schemes open and close; this may have changed since, so confirm on GOV.UK before relying on it.
General information, not legal advice. This page sets out which rules and funding routes may apply. A qualified professional should confirm them. Golden Ledger does not enforce the law, is not the Building Safety Regulator and does not give legal advice. Your council reviews what you send. Fire safety law is enforced by your fire and rescue authority. In higher-risk buildings, the Building Safety Regulator also enforces the duties in Part 4 of the Building Safety Act 2022.
See what may apply to your building.
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