The UK Government has launched its £1 billion building safety fund, initially revealed in the most recent Budget announcement by Chancellor, Rishi Sunak. The registration process is now open and closes on 31 July 2020.

‘The fund is aimed at making sure tenants, leaseholders and residents living in buildings covered by the fund are safe and feel safe by remediating unsafe non-ACM cladding systems. These will be cladding materials and systems that do not meet an appropriate standard of fire safety and could pose a significant risk to the health and safety of residents, other building users, people nearby or the fire and rescue services.’

‘The fund will meet the cost of remediating non-ACM cladding systems where building owners (or other entities legally responsible for making buildings safe) are unable to do so. The fund will address some of the barriers to remediation being carried out quickly.’

The registration process will open in the first week of June and will remain open until 31st July 2020. Once buildings are registered with the program the Department will work with building owners to complete any technical assessments necessary to determine eligibility. Full guidance and an application process for buildings which meet the technical criteria will be available by the end of July 2020. This will enable the full application process to proceed at pace. Where building owners have the capacity and capability to undertake identification activity the Department expects they will continue to do so. Further support for building owners will be available once registered.

Launching the scheme, Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick said: “I will not accept any excuses from building owners who have yet to take action, and those responsible should register for the fund so that they can start the remediation process immediately. I have also reached an agreement with local leaders so that this important work can continue safely during the pandemic.

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