Building safety remediation: July 2026 progress figures

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government published figures in July 2026 showing that 4,697 residential buildings over 11 metres in height with unsafe cladding were being monitored across its remediation programmes in England. The department reported that 1,833 of those buildings, or 39 per cent, had completed remediation work, whilst a further 718 buildings, or 15 per cent, had started remediation. The remaining 2,146 buildings, representing 46 per cent of the total, had not yet begun remediation work.

The House of Commons Library analysed the July 2026 release in September 2026 and noted that the 4,697 buildings being monitored represented an estimated 64 to 81 per cent of all buildings over 11 metres expected to need remediation. The MHCLG estimated in March 2026 that between 5,800 and 7,300 residential buildings over 11 metres in England have or had unsafe cladding requiring work. The total number of buildings being monitored had increased by 900 since the department first began reporting on all five remediation programmes in October 2023.

ACM cladding remediation nearing completion

The July 2026 data showed that 516 high-rise buildings of 18 metres or over had been identified with aluminium composite material cladding systems, the type associated with the Grenfell Tower fire, unlikely to meet Building Regulations. Of those 516 buildings, 478, or 93 per cent, had completed remediation or were awaiting building control sign off, according to the House of Commons Library briefing published in September 2026. The MHCLG reported in July 2026 that 98 per cent of ACM buildings were forecast to have started or completed remediation works by the end of September 2026.

The government reported in September 2026 that two ACM buildings were forecast to start works by the end of that month, with an additional eight buildings forecast to start by the end of 2027. One building without a forecast start date had been subject to local authority enforcement action. The department had identified an estimated 30,200 to 33,400 dwellings in private and social sector buildings that had completed ACM remediation, with a further 2,400 to 2,500 dwellings in occupied buildings yet to be remediated.

Progress across government funding schemes

The Building Safety Fund, which covers high-rise buildings of 18 metres and over with non-ACM cladding, had 639 buildings proceeding with applications for funding at the end of July 2026. The MHCLG reported that 487 buildings, or 76 per cent, had completed remediation works, including those awaiting building control sign off, whilst 75 buildings, or 12 per cent, had started remediation. The remaining 3,072 buildings registered with the fund were either ineligible, withdrawn, or had transferred to the Cladding Safety Scheme.

The Cladding Safety Scheme, which covers buildings between 11 and 18 metres, had 1,438 buildings in the programme at the end of July 2026. The department reported that 127 buildings, or 9 per cent, had completed remediation, whilst 269 buildings, or 19 per cent, had started works. The government announced in July 2025 that it would expand support to lower-rise buildings under 11 metres with serious fire safety risks, prioritising buildings based on the risk they pose rather than focusing mainly on height.

Developer-led remediation commitments

More than 50 residential developers signed a developer remediation contract with the government, committing to fix life-critical fire safety defects in buildings over 11 metres that they had a role in developing or refurbishing in the past 30 years. A parliamentary debate in September 2026 heard that the contract covers more than 2,000 buildings in England and that developers had committed around 4.2 billion pounds. The MHCLG reported in July 2026 that there were an estimated 168,000 dwellings in buildings with defects that developers were committed to remediate, of which an estimated 89,000 dwellings were in buildings that had started or completed remediation works.

The government stated in April 2026 that developers had assessed whether remediation work was required in 94 per cent of their buildings. However, a Westminster Hall debate in September 2026 noted that some developers were behind the government's stretch target and that engagement would continue. The House of Commons Library reported in September 2026 that the release does not cover residential buildings under 11 metres and that the MHCLG does not publish estimates of how many smaller buildings require remediation.

Leaseholder protections and funding

The Building Safety Act 2022 introduced protections for qualifying leaseholders in England, shielding them from all costs related to the remediation of unsafe cladding systems. Guidance published on GOV.UK states that qualifying leaseholders are those who live in their own home or have no more than three UK properties in total, in buildings over 11 metres or with at least five storeys. The protections apply regardless of whether the building owner can be identified or agrees to pay, with government funding available where developers cannot be held responsible.

For non-cladding building safety defects, qualifying leaseholders whose property is valued at less than 325,000 pounds in Greater London and 175,000 pounds elsewhere in England are protected from all costs. Other qualifying leaseholders have their contribution capped at a maximum of 15,000 pounds in Greater London and 10,000 pounds elsewhere, spread over ten years. The cap applies retrospectively, including money already spent on relevant costs. Building owners or landlords associated with the developer who was responsible for the defect cannot pass on any historical building safety remediation costs, whether to qualifying or non-qualifying leaseholders.

Highlight

The MHCLG estimated in July 2026 that there were 250,000 dwellings in occupied private and social sector buildings over 11 metres with unsafe cladding being monitored. Of those, an estimated 111,000 dwellings were in buildings that had completed remediation, and an estimated 35,000 additional dwellings were in buildings that had started remediation.

Planned legislation and deadlines

The government announced in July 2025 that it would bring forward a Remediation Bill to set strict deadlines for landlords to fix unsafe cladding. The planned legislation, to be introduced as soon as the parliamentary timetable allows, would require landlords of buildings 18 metres or more in height with unsafe cladding to complete remediation by the end of 2029, and landlords of buildings 11 to 18 metres to complete remediation by the end of 2031. Those who fail to comply without reasonable excuse could face unlimited fines or imprisonment. The legislation would also give named bodies, such as Homes England and local authorities, powers to remediate buildings if the landlord fails to do so.

A government progress report published in September 2026 stated that as of the end of July 2026, remediation works had been started on 2,551 buildings, or 54 per cent of monitored buildings. The report noted that the Building Safety Regulator was established in January 2026 as a new arm's length body sponsored by the MHCLG, and that the government had completed 30 of the 61 recommendations from the Grenfell Tower Inquiry Phase 2 report. A private member's Leaseholder Remediation Bill was debated in the House of Lords in September 2026, seeking to expand protections to all residential buildings containing leasehold properties with no minimum height threshold, though the government has pledged to introduce its own remediation bill.

Where flat buyers can find official guidance

Anyone considering buying a flat in a building over 11 metres should check whether the building has been identified as requiring remediation and, if so, what stage the works have reached. The MHCLG publishes monthly data releases on building safety remediation on GOV.UK, with the next release scheduled for 30 September 2026. Buyers can ask the seller or their solicitor whether the building is registered with any of the government remediation programmes, including the ACM programme, Building Safety Fund, Cladding Safety Scheme or developer remediation contract.

Guidance on leaseholder protections is available on GOV.UK, including a leaseholder protections checker tool to help people understand whether they qualify for financial protections under the Building Safety Act. The guidance explains the developer test, contribution conditions and caps on non-cladding costs. Leaseholders facing building safety charges can also contact LEASE, a government-funded service that provides free initial advice on leasehold law. The Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024 made amendments to the Building Safety Act to clarify that residents can request to recover costs from landlords that they should not have paid in the first place, including for interim measures such as waking watches.

The government has stated that it is committed to making sure everyone has trust that their home is safe and built to a high standard. However, progress remains uneven across different remediation programmes and building types. Anyone affected by building safety issues, whether as a leaseholder, buyer or tenant, should seek advice from a regulated professional before making financial or legal decisions. Conveyancers and surveyors can provide information specific to a particular property, and mortgage brokers can explain how building safety concerns may affect lending decisions.

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