A prospectus for the fund, which will meet the cost for remediation in the private and social sector of buildings was launched on 26 May by Housing Minister, Robert Jenrick, and is predominately targeted at supporting leaseholders in the private sector facing significant bills. Ministers have stated that they expect building owners who are already remediating their buildings should continue to do so. Further stating that they should explore every opportunity to fund this work before seeking funding from the Government or passing on costs to their leaseholders.
However, the Government is clear that for leaseholders living in buildings owned by providers in the social sector, it will provide funding to meet the provider’s costs which would otherwise have been borne by leaseholders. The Government expects landlords to cover these costs without increasing rent for their tenants.
The Housing Secretary, mayors, and local leaders have also pledged to ensure vital building safety improvements continue during the coronavirus pandemic. This will ensure the safety of those living in high-rise buildings with unsafe cladding or insufficient fire safety measures is prioritised.
The fund’s application process has been designed to enable projects to proceed at pace with building owners, freeholders or others responsible for the building urged to register for the fund on Monday, 1 June, as applications can be progressed alongside the development of the remediation project.
More safety measures
The Government has also published an amendment to the statutory guidance to building safety regulations – otherwise known as Approved Document B. These changes will ensure sprinkler systems and consistent wayfinding signage are mandatory in all new high-rise blocks over 11 metres tall when they come into force.
The Fire Safety Bill, which was introduced to Parliament in April and will empower fire and rescue services to take enforcement action and hold building owners to account if they do not comply with the law.
Vital building safety work to continue during pandemic
Local leaders have announced that essential work to replace unsafe cladding on high-rise buildings will continue during the COVID-19 pandemic.