Our Managing Director, Robert Storton shares his views on the proposed Remediation Bill announced recently.
The UK government’s latest announcement on cladding remediation marks a decisive shift in building safety policy and tells landlords to act now or face serious consequences.
I welcome the clarity and urgency that the proposed Remediation Bill brings. However, it also raises important considerations for landlords, developers and those of us in the construction industry tasked with delivering safe homes at pace.
The new legislation, which will be brought before Parliament as soon as possible, proposes binding deadlines for the remediation of unsafe cladding:
- By the end of 2029 for buildings 18m or taller
- By the end of 2031 for buildings 11–18m
Failure to meet these deadlines without a reasonable excuse could result in unlimited fines or even imprisonment. This marks the most serious enforcement stance we’ve seen to date, and rightly so.
The safety of residents cannot remain a matter of negotiation or delay.
Another key development is the new power being granted to Homes England and local authorities, which means they can directly intervene and carry out remediation where landlords fail to do so. This “bypass” mechanism is a strong signal that non-compliance will not be tolerated and that unsafe buildings will not be allowed to remain in limbo due.
The Bill also honors a commitment to parity between private and social housing landlords. With updated Cladding Safety Scheme guidance and access to over £1 billion in funding, social landlords can now remediate on equal footing with their private sector counterparts.
This move will help remove barriers to progress, especially in areas where local authorities and housing associations have been waiting for financial certainty.
We’re entering a new era of accountability.
Our expert teams are ready to support landlords, local authorities and social housing providers through the complex process of safe and compliant remediation.
Behind every unsafe building are families and individuals who deserve peace of mind in their homes.
Our message to landlords is: don’t wait. Engage with the experienced remediation specialists at Hamilton, who have the professional indemnity insurance cover, designers, competence and supply chain partners to get your compliance plans in order and ensure you’re on track to meet the new deadlines.
The risks of delay, both legally and morally, are simply too high.
At Hamilton, we are proud to be part of the solution and will continue to advocate for safety, transparency as the industry rises to meet this challenge.
If you’re a landlord, housing provider, or local authority looking for support with cladding remediation, please get in touch.
