The government is proposing to extend financial protections for leaseholders, increase funding for fire-safety remediation and make manufacturers of unsafe construction products
contribute to repair costs.
The UK government has unveiled plans to protect more flat owners from the potentially substantial costs of repairing dangerous building defects, including fire-safety problems and unsafe cladding.
Announced on 27 October 2026, the proposals aim to address gaps in existing legislation that can leave some leaseholders responsible for bills to fix problems they did not cause. The measures would expand access to financial support while increasing pressure on companies responsible for unsafe construction products to help fund remedial work.
The announcement was made during the second reading of the Remediation of Unsafe Cladding Bill in Parliament. The legislation is intended to accelerate repairs to unsafe buildings and strengthen enforcement against those who fail to address serious safety risks.
Under the current framework, many leaseholders are protected from certain costs associated with historic building safety defects. However, eligibility rules and differences in property ownership mean that some residents remain exposed to significant expenses.
The proposed changes would extend assistance to several groups currently facing gaps in protection.
More leaseholders could qualify for financial protection
One area under review concerns people who purchase a flat as their main residence but inherit an ineligible status under the existing rules. At present, protection can depend on the circumstances of the property owner on 14 February 2022, when the original safeguards were established.
As a result, someone who buys a flat years later may still face repair costs even if the property is their only home. This can happen when the previous owner did not qualify for protection. The government intends to explore ways of addressing this issue so that more subsequent buyers can benefit from the safeguards.
Additional support is also planned for residents of collectively owned buildings and properties where leaseholders have acquired the freehold through enfranchisement. Because these buildings do not have a separate freeholder in the conventional sense, their residents may fall outside existing protections under the Building Safety Act.
The government intends to provide funding to help cover the remediation of serious internal fire-safety defects in these buildings, particularly where repairs are both high-risk and expensive.
Property ownership limits could be raised
The government is also proposing to widen protection for people who own several properties but are facing bills for non-cladding building safety defects.
Existing rules generally restrict certain protections to individuals who owned no more than three properties in the UK on 14 February 2022. Under the new proposal, that threshold would increase to six properties.
The change could help people who owned between four and six properties at the relevant date and were previously excluded from protection. It is intended to prevent individuals from being charged for serious defects they did not cause, including where remediation is necessary to ensure the safety of tenants or other residents.
Further details on eligibility and the financial assistance available are expected as the legislation progresses through Parliament.
Manufacturers to face greater responsibility
Another major element of the proposals is a new mechanism requiring manufacturers associated with historic unsafe cladding and insulation products to contribute towards the cost of making affected buildings safe.
The government says it will seek powers to recover these contributions from manufacturers on a broader scale. The aim is to ensure that the financial burden of remediation is not left disproportionately with residents who had no responsibility for the original construction problems.
Building Safety Minister Baroness Blake said the government intended to expand protections for homeowners while ensuring that companies connected to unsafe products played a greater role in correcting the damage.
Tougher enforcement for those who fail to act
The proposed financial measures form part of a wider effort to accelerate the remediation of unsafe buildings.
Under the bill, those responsible for addressing dangerous building defects would face a legal duty to carry out the necessary work. Failure to comply could result in criminal penalties and fines of up to £500,000.
Authorities would also be empowered to intervene and arrange repairs where responsible parties repeatedly refuse to take action.
The reforms are part of a broader programme to strengthen leaseholders’ rights, improve building safety and give residents greater control over their homes.
However, the practical impact of the proposed changes will depend on the final legislation and the detailed rules governing eligibility, funding and the recovery of contributions from construction product manufacturers. The government has said further information will be provided as the bill advances through Parliament.
