For many leaseholders living in buildings under 11 metres, the cladding crisis has felt like an impossible situation. While larger buildings have benefited from government funding for several years, thousands of residents in lower-rise developments have been left facing significant remediation costs with little support.
That has now changed.
The Government has announced a new funding scheme to help remediate unsafe cladding on eligible residential buildings under 11 metres in England, bringing many lower-rise developments into scope for financial assistance for the first time.
What has changed?
Previously, government funding was generally only available for buildings over 11 metres in height.
The new scheme expands the existing Cladding Safety Scheme, administered by Homes England, to include certain buildings below this height where unsafe cladding presents a significant fire safety risk.
Importantly, this marks a shift away from assessing buildings purely by height and instead places greater emphasis on the level of risk.
Who could be eligible?
While not every building under 11 metres will qualify, funding is expected to be available where:
- The building is a multi-occupied residential building in England.
- Unsafe external cladding presents a significant life safety risk.
- The building meets the eligibility criteria set out by the Cladding Safety Scheme.
- An application is successfully approved by Homes England.
Applications are expected to open on 17 August 2026.
What does this mean for leaseholders?
For many leaseholders, this announcement could remove the prospect of substantial remediation bills that previously fell outside existing government support.
However, funding is not automatic. Buildings will need to demonstrate that they meet the eligibility requirements, and applications will be prioritised according to the level of fire risk rather than simply the order in which they are received.
What should managing agents and freeholders do now?
If your building may be affected, now is the time to prepare by:
- Reviewing any existing fire risk and external wall assessments.
- Confirming whether unsafe cladding has been identified.
- Gathering building information ready for an application.
- Seeking professional advice where further investigations are required.
Taking these steps early could help avoid delays once the application process opens.
How Oakfield can help
At Oakfield Block Management, we understand how complex building safety legislation has become. We are already supporting a number of developments through the Building Safety Act requirements, including external wall assessments, remediation projects and Safety Case preparation.
If you manage a building that may be eligible for the new funding, we can help you understand the requirements, liaise with specialist consultants and support your application where appropriate.
If you would like to discuss your building or find out whether this funding may apply to your development, please contact our Block Management team.