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Scottish social landlords to get equal access to cladding remediation funding
Social landlords in Scotland will be able to get public funding for cladding remediation work for the first time.
Social landlords in Scotland will be able to get public funding for cladding remediation work for the first time #UKhousingHousing associations and co-operatives that have had government-funded Single Building Assessments (SBA) can apply for the cash under a new government plan.
They will be able to use the money to pay to fix any problems found by SBAs, which report on risks to life driven or made worse by external cladding in flats.
The remediation fund was due to be reserved for private owners, sparking criticism from the Scottish Federation of Housing Associations (SFHA) earlier this year.
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Commenting on the new plans, Sally Thomas, chief executive of the SFHA, said: “The safety of tenants is absolutely paramount to all of Scotland’s housing associations and co-operatives, and they take their responsibility for this extremely seriously.
“However, without a clear and fair route to government funding, the cost of any remediation works would have fallen on tenants, who are least able to afford it.
“We’re delighted to see that the Scottish government recognises this and will treat all housing providers equally.”
Holyrood is also due to double the pot of cash which funds SBAs for flats that are at least 11 metres high and built in the 30 years up to 2022. The government will boost this funding to £20m, and said it means that every application made before the end of the year can progress without delay.
A further £10m to speed up provision of fire alarms in private multi-owner buildings with cladding has also been announced. This money will be available to blocks with approved SBA funding up until the end of the year and does not include flats where developers are known and taking responsibility for assessment and remediation.
The changes have been revealed in updates to the Cladding Remediation Programme, which launched in March following the Housing (Cladding Remediation) (Scotland) Bill last year.
Other new actions the government aims to complete by this autumn include creating remediation pathways for buildings over 18 metres in height, and an information-gathering exercise on all relevant buildings taller than 11m owned by councils or registered social landlords.
It also aims to have finalised the developer remediation contract and have this signed by participating developers by the end of October.
Màiri McAllan, the Scottish housing secretary, said: “Scotland’s Cladding Remediation Programme is progressing at pace and the additional £20m I’ve announced today will further expedite this vital work.
“Ultimately, I am determined that, by 2029, every high-risk residential building over 18 metres will have been resolved, with buildings between 11 and 18 metres placed on a clear pathway to resolution.
“My foremost priority is to ensure the safety of all those living in buildings affected by dangerous cladding.”
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