THE PROPERTY FILTER TAKE
The Cladding Safety Scheme now covers buildings under 11 metres for the first time, with applications opening 17 August 2026 and closing eight weeks later
Leaseholders in sub-11-metre buildings have no statutory protection under the Building Safety Act 2022 - without this scheme they face the full cost of remediation; this funding changes that for high-risk buildings
Leaseholders in affected buildings may wish to commission a Fire Risk Appraisal of External Walls under PAS 9980:2022 now, before the application window opens, to confirm eligibility and avoid a last-minute rush
For the first time, buildings under 11 metres can access government funding to remove unsafe cladding. According to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (9 July 2026), applications to the extended Cladding Safety Scheme open on 17 August 2026 and close eight weeks later.
What does the low-rise extension actually cover?
The funding runs through the existing Cladding Safety Scheme - a government grant programme covering the cost of removing dangerous external wall systems in England. Eligibility is determined by risk, not height.
According to GOV.UK (9 July 2026), buildings must first obtain a FRAEW (Fire Risk Appraisal of External Walls - a professional assessment of fire safety risks posed by a building's outer wall system) carried out under PAS 9980:2022. That is the British Standards Institution methodology for assessing fire safety risks in external wall systems. The appraisal must identify unsafe cladding presenting a "serious life critical fire safety risk" before a building can apply.
In practice this means you need a qualified assessor to complete the FRAEW before the window opens on 17 August 2026. Building Safety Minister Samantha Dixon stated, according to GOV.UK (9 July 2026), that residents should not be left worrying about flammable cladding simply because their building sits below a height threshold.
Why were low-rise buildings left out until now?
The Building Safety Act 2022 - the legislation that introduced leaseholder protections on remediation costs - explicitly covers buildings 11 metres or taller, or over 5 storeys. Below that threshold, leaseholders have no equivalent statutory protection. They can be left facing large bills for defects they did not cause.
A case-by-case approach for sub-11-metre buildings existed for around four years, but no dedicated funding accompanied it until this announcement. The shift to a risk-based rather than height-based model delivers the commitment made in the Remediation Acceleration Plan Update of July 2025, according to GOV.UK.
If you are considering how leaseholder obligations interact with your purchase strategy, our lease extension calculator can help you model related costs. Broader guidance on buying in affected blocks is available in our property investment strategies hub.
Will the funding arrive in time?
Campaign groups are sceptical. According to The Negotiator (July 2026), campaigners dismissed the package as "incremental measures" that risk locking leaseholders into more "years of delays". The concern is that limited funding combined with a bureaucratic application process will give people hope, then fail to deliver promptly.
The government has not disclosed a specific budget for the low-rise element. Overall cladding remediation investment - split across the Cladding Safety Scheme and the Building Safety Fund - is set to exceed £1 billion in 2025/2026, according to GOV.UK (October 2024). No breakdown is publicly available for the sub-11-metre component.
Leaseholders in low-rise blocks with suspected cladding issues may wish to visit our free resources for current guidance on next steps.
Key takeaways
Applications open 17 August 2026 and close eight weeks later - the deadline for a completed FRAEW is effectively the same date
Eligibility depends on fire safety risk, not building height; a FRAEW under PAS 9980:2022 is required before applying
Leaseholders in sub-11-metre buildings have no protection under the Building Safety Act 2022, making this scheme their primary route to avoiding remediation bills
For the first time, buildings under 11 metres can access government funding to remove unsafe cladding. According to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (9 July 2026), applications to the extended Cladding Safety Scheme open on 17 August 2026 and close eight weeks later.
What does the low-rise extension actually cover?
The funding runs through the existing Cladding Safety Scheme - a government grant programme covering the cost of removing dangerous external wall systems in England. Eligibility is determined by risk, not height.
According to GOV.UK (9 July 2026), buildings must first obtain a FRAEW (Fire Risk Appraisal of External Walls - a professional assessment of fire safety risks posed by a building's outer wall system) carried out under PAS 9980:2022. That is the British Standards Institution methodology for assessing fire safety risks in external wall systems. The appraisal must identify unsafe cladding presenting a "serious life critical fire safety risk" before a building can apply.
In practice this means you need a qualified assessor to complete the FRAEW before the window opens on 17 August 2026. Building Safety Minister Samantha Dixon stated, according to GOV.UK (9 July 2026), that residents should not be left worrying about flammable cladding simply because their building sits below a height threshold.
Why were low-rise buildings left out until now?
The Building Safety Act 2022 - the legislation that introduced leaseholder protections on remediation costs - explicitly covers buildings 11 metres or taller, or over 5 storeys. Below that threshold, leaseholders have no equivalent statutory protection. They can be left facing large bills for defects they did not cause.
A case-by-case approach for sub-11-metre buildings existed for around four years, but no dedicated funding accompanied it until this announcement. The shift to a risk-based rather than height-based model delivers the commitment made in the Remediation Acceleration Plan Update of July 2025, according to GOV.UK.
If you are considering how leaseholder obligations interact with your purchase strategy, our lease extension calculator can help you model related costs. Broader guidance on buying in affected blocks is available in our property investment strategies hub.
Will the funding arrive in time?
Campaign groups are sceptical. According to The Negotiator (July 2026), campaigners dismissed the package as "incremental measures" that risk locking leaseholders into more "years of delays". The concern is that limited funding combined with a bureaucratic application process will give people hope, then fail to deliver promptly.
The government has not disclosed a specific budget for the low-rise element. Overall cladding remediation investment - split across the Cladding Safety Scheme and the Building Safety Fund - is set to exceed £1 billion in 2025/2026, according to GOV.UK (October 2024). No breakdown is publicly available for the sub-11-metre component.
Leaseholders in low-rise blocks with suspected cladding issues may wish to visit our free resources for current guidance on next steps.
Key takeaways
Applications open 17 August 2026 and close eight weeks later - the deadline for a completed FRAEW is effectively the same date
Eligibility depends on fire safety risk, not building height; a FRAEW under PAS 9980:2022 is required before applying
Leaseholders in sub-11-metre buildings have no protection under the Building Safety Act 2022, making this scheme their primary route to avoiding remediation bills
Frequently asked questions
Frequently asked questions
Does this scheme cover all buildings under 11 metres?
Who pays if a building does not qualify?
When exactly can I apply?
How much funding is available for low-rise buildings specifically?
