The Building Safety (Remediation of Unsafe Cladding) Bill passed its Second Reading on 27 October 2026. During the debate, the Government announced further commitments to extend leaseholder protections and strengthen construction product manufacturer redress. Ministers also confirmed wider funding and regulatory measures to support remediation.
Additional Measures:
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The Government committed grant funding towards the remediation of high-risk, high-cost internal fire safety defects in eligible collectively owned and enfranchised buildings. This is intended to help residents currently excluded from existing protections because there is no separate freeholder to bear the costs. Eligibility and funding details will follow.
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The Government intends to table amendments increasing the property ownership threshold for leaseholder cost protections from three to six properties. Subject to other qualifying conditions, this would extend protection against non-cladding remediation costs to more leaseholders who owned four to six properties on 14 February 2022, when the original protections were first announced.
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The Government will explore extending protections to leaseholders whose flat is their only or principal home but remains non-qualifying because of a previous owner’s circumstances. This is a commitment to investigate further protection, with the scope still to be determined.
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The Government reiterated that stretched targets have been agreed with developers to accelerate assessments and remediation, with developers to be held accountable for progress.
The existing joint plan also includes commitments to improve residents’ experience and resolve barriers to delivery. Buildings covered by the Developer Remediation Contract remain excluded from the Bill’s new legal duty to remediate, with developers’ obligations continuing through the existing contractual framework.
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Ministers confirmed that PAS 9980 will become the required methodology for Fire Risk Appraisals of External Walls (FRAEWs). Homes England will audit all assessments recommending mitigation or remediation and will have powers to audit assessments concluding that no work is required.
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The Secretary of State reiterated the targeted funding for buildings under 11 metres presenting the highest cladding fire safety risks. This forms part of a risk-based approach to remediation funding, rather than relying solely on building height.
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The Government confirmed plans for secondary legislation to strengthen building insurance transparency and prevent insurance commissions paid to freeholders, landlords and managing agents from being passed on to leaseholders. These regulations will commence the provisions in the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024.
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The Secretary of State highlighted an additional £62 million for fire alarms in buildings with defects, with estimated leaseholder savings of around £280 a month.
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Ministers highlighted equal access for social housing providers to Government remediation funding schemes, supported by over £1 billion of investment. This is intended to accelerate works while reducing the pressure remediation costs place on providers’ wider housing programmes.
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The Government reiterated its intention to prevent residents being evacuated without a clear route to returning home. The Bill would require prohibition orders and notices to be accompanied by enforcement action requiring necessary safety works, where the building can be made safe for occupation.
It would also clarify routes for leaseholders to secure management of buildings where the freehold has become ownerless following insolvency, helping residents maintain their buildings and pursue remediation.
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The Government intends to introduce amendments requiring relevant construction product manufacturers to contribute towards taxpayer-funded remediation costs. This would supplement the Bill’s existing provisions making claims against manufacturers easier. Details of the new scheme will follow as the Bill progresses.
View the original provisions and read more about the Bill HERE.
Next steps
The Bill will now proceed to Public Bill Committee, with scrutiny scheduled to begin on 12 November and conclude by 8 December 2026. The proposed amendments and further funding details will determine how the additional commitments operate in practice.
