Applications for the government’s new Under-11-Metre Cladding Fund opened on 17 August 2026. That means responsible entities in Essex, Kent, London and across England now have an eight-week window to apply, with applications closing on Friday 9 October 2026.
This is a significant change for multi-occupied residential buildings that previously fell outside the main Cladding Safety Scheme because they were below the 11-metre threshold. It is also a time-sensitive opportunity, because funding is capped, applications do not guarantee support and higher-risk buildings will be prioritised.
For contractors, developers, housing associations, freeholders, management companies and other responsible entities, the practical message is straightforward: do not wait until September to begin preparing.
What is the Under-11-Metre Cladding Fund?
The fund is an expansion of the Cladding Safety Scheme, delivered by Homes England through the Building Remediation Hub.
It is intended to support the remediation of unsafe cladding and external wall systems on eligible multi-occupied residential buildings in England containing two or more dwellings.
The important change is that the previous height requirement has been removed for this funding route. Buildings under 11 metres can now apply where a suitable assessment identifies a serious life-critical cladding fire safety risk.
The fund is tenure neutral, so both privately owned and social housing buildings may be eligible. However, it is not an automatic grant for every building below 11 metres. Homes England will assess applications according to the risk presented by the cladding, the evidence supplied and the availability of funding.
The government has said that priority will be given to buildings presenting a high life-critical cladding fire safety risk. Applications for high-risk buildings will be progressed in the order they are received, so the date and time of submission may matter.
A FRAEW is the starting point
An application cannot be submitted without a completed Fire Risk Appraisal of External Walls, or FRAEW.
The FRAEW must:
- Be completed in accordance with PAS 9980:2022
- Be prepared by a suitably qualified and competent assessor
- Be carried out by an assessor from the relevant accredited panel
- Identify whether cladding or an external wall system presents an intolerable life safety risk
- Explain whether remediation or mitigation is necessary and proportionate
A general Fire Risk Assessment should also be provided where one is available.
In practice, this is likely to be the main preparation issue for many applicants. A responsible entity may know that a building has cladding, but that is not the same as having the technical evidence required by Homes England. The assessment needs to explain the construction, materials, fire performance, exposure and risk in a way that can be reviewed and audited.
I would advise responsible entities to start contacting suitable assessors immediately. There is no benefit in waiting for every other document to be assembled if the FRAEW has not yet been commissioned, particularly as assessor availability can become a problem when a national funding window opens.
Applications can also be submitted for buildings assessed as presenting a medium risk where action is required, provided a compliant FRAEW is available. These applications may help Homes England build a fuller picture of the buildings affected, although meeting the criteria does not guarantee that funding will be awarded.
Who submits the application?
The application must be made by the building’s responsible entity or an authorised representative.
This could include:
- A freeholder
- A head leaseholder
- A registered provider of social housing
- A management company
- A right-to-manage company
- Another organisation with responsibility for the building
Leaseholders and residents cannot apply directly for the funding. They should normally raise the issue with the responsible entity. Where residents are struggling to engage with the responsible entity, Homes England has provided a Tell Us Tool so information about a building can still be shared.
There is no pre-registration or early access process. Applications must be submitted through the Building Remediation Hub before the deadline.
Prepare more than the FRAEW
A technically sound FRAEW is essential, but it is only one part of a credible application. Responsible entities should begin gathering:
- Building plans and construction records
- Details of the external wall system and cladding materials
- Previous surveys, inspections and fire risk assessments
- The completed FRAEW and supporting technical evidence
- Ownership and management information
- Details of proposed remediation or mitigation works
- Initial cost estimates and contractor information
- Resident and leaseholder communications
- Previous insurance notifications and claim history
- Details of developer, warranty or other redress discussions
Homes England will ask responsible entities to confirm that they have explored redress measures and alternative funding routes before funding is confirmed. This includes potential insurance claims, developer contributions and warranty schemes.
That requirement is important from an insurance perspective. It does not mean an insurer will automatically pay for cladding remediation, and it does not turn an application into an insurance claim. Policy response depends on the wording, the cause of the damage, the relevant period of cover, notifications, exclusions and the facts of the individual building.
It does mean that responsible entities should be able to demonstrate that they have checked the available routes properly. A poorly documented insurance enquiry, or a late notification where a policy may have responded, can create unnecessary difficulty later.
The insurance records contractors and responsible entities should review
If a contractor, developer or property organisation has been involved in the design, installation, inspection or management of an external wall system, its historic insurance records may become relevant.
This is where policies such as Construction Contractor Insurance, General Contractor Liability Insurance and professional indemnity cover need to be considered carefully.
For contractors, the review should include:
- Which insurers provided cover during design, construction or installation?
- Were notifications made when concerns about the cladding or external wall system first arose?
- Are policy schedules, wordings, endorsements and renewal records available?
- Are subcontractor certificates and contractual indemnities documented?
- Could professional advice, design work or specification issues be relevant?
- Has the developer, warranty provider or another responsible party been approached?
Professional indemnity records may be particularly relevant where the issue concerns design, specification, inspection or professional advice. Liability policies may also need to be reviewed, but the response will depend on whether there is an insured event and how the policy defines damage, defects and associated costs.
For a contractor operating in the region, this is a sensible time to review Business Insurance Essex or Business Insurance London arrangements with a specialist broker, especially where historic projects, multiple trading entities or older policy documents are involved.
Moyak’s general contractors insurance service may also be useful for businesses reviewing their current arrangements. The purpose is not simply to obtain another certificate. It is to understand how the business’s insurance programme may interact with construction defects, third-party allegations, professional advice, remediation work and contractual responsibilities.
Why applying early matters
The cladding remediation programme has recently been given a red delivery rating, with delivery constraints, regulatory delays, capacity pressures and construction cost inflation all affecting progress. That wider context makes this fund meaningful, but it also means applicants should not assume that approval will be quick or guaranteed.
The official guidance makes three points clear:
- Funding is limited.
- Applications do not create an entitlement to funding.
- Higher-risk buildings will be prioritised.
For high-risk buildings, valid applications are date- and time-stamped, and the submission position determines where the application sits in the funding pipeline. A complete application submitted early is therefore preferable to an incomplete application submitted at the last minute.
There is also a separate consultation concerning emergency repairs under the higher-risk building regime, which runs until 3 September 2026. Responsible entities affected by delays should consider whether the consultation is relevant to their building safety experience, particularly where interim measures or emergency works are needed while permanent remediation is being planned.
A practical eight-week action plan
The following sequence should help responsible entities and their advisers keep the process moving:
This week
- Confirm who the responsible entity is.
- Check whether the building is multi-occupied and under 11 metres.
- Establish whether works started before 9 July 2026, as this may affect eligibility.
- Contact a suitably qualified FRAEW assessor.
- Set up or confirm access to the Building Remediation Hub.
Within the next two weeks
- Gather building plans, previous reports and construction records.
- Request missing insurance policy schedules and wordings.
- Review developer, warranty and contractor information.
- Record previous notifications, claims and correspondence.
- Begin discussions with residents, leaseholders and other stakeholders.
Before submitting
- Check that the FRAEW follows PAS 9980:2022.
- Include a Fire Risk Assessment where available.
- Prepare a clear description and estimated cost of the proposed works.
- Document the redress and alternative funding routes explored.
- Make sure the authorised applicant has the required information.
- Submit through the Building Remediation Hub as soon as the application is complete.
What this means for Essex, Kent and London businesses
For contractors and property professionals in Essex, Kent and London, the fund creates a narrow period in which technical, commercial and insurance information needs to come together.
The most common mistake I see in situations like this is treating the funding application, insurance review and remediation planning as separate exercises. They are connected. The FRAEW informs the proposed works, the proposed works affect costs and contracts, and the redress process may require evidence from historic policies, developers, contractors and warranty providers.
That does not mean every responsible entity will have a successful insurance claim, or that every building will receive government funding. It does mean that a properly organised evidence trail gives the building a stronger position.
If you are responsible for an eligible building, start the FRAEW process now, register with the Building Remediation Hub, and avoid leaving submission until the final week.
If you are a contractor, developer, housing provider or property manager and need to understand how remediation activity may affect your insurance, speak to Moyak Insurance Services. We can help review your existing arrangements, identify missing records and discuss suitable Construction Contractor Insurance, General Contractor Liability Insurance and professional indemnity considerations for your business.
This article is intended as general information and is not a funding, legal, fire safety or insurance coverage determination. Always check the latest official Homes England guidance and obtain specialist advice for your building or business.
Frequently asked questions
When did the Under-11-Metre Cladding Fund open?
Applications opened on 17 August 2026. As of 19 August 2026, the fund opened two days ago and the application window is already running.
When is the application deadline?
Applications must be submitted through the Building Remediation Hub by Friday 9 October 2026.
Can private and social housing apply?
Yes. The fund is tenure neutral, so eligible privately owned and social housing buildings can apply.
Is a FRAEW required?
Yes. The application cannot be submitted without a Fire Risk Appraisal of External Walls prepared to PAS 9980:2022 by a suitably qualified and competent assessor. A Fire Risk Assessment should also be supplied where available.
Does meeting the eligibility requirements guarantee funding?
No. Funding is capped, applications are prioritised according to cladding fire safety risk and meeting the requirements does not create an entitlement to funding.
Do responsible entities need to check insurance and warranty routes?
Yes. Before funding is confirmed, responsible entities will be asked whether they have explored redress measures and alternative funding routes, including insurance claims, developer contributions and warranty schemes.