Objectives:
- Accelerate remediation of unsafe buildings by supporting enforcement actions.
- Enable Local Authorities (LAs) and Fire and Rescue Authorities (FRAs) to use legal powers against building owners failing to remediate.
- Protect leaseholders and residents by reducing safety risks, interim safety costs, and uncertainty.
- Encourage proactive remediation by building owners through increased enforcement.
- Facilitate learning and sharing of best practices among regulators pursuing legal cases.
Target Beneficiaries:
- Local Authorities and Fire and Rescue Authorities in England.
- Buildings eligible must be self-contained or parts with at least 2 dwellings, at least 11 meters or 5 storeys high, and have fire safety defects.
- Applicants must be the LA or FRA where the building is located.
- Buildings must have defects posing fire safety risks.
- For cases involving Remediation Orders (RO) or Remediation Cost Orders (RCO), buildings and respondents must meet specific criteria under the Building Safety Act 2022.
Funding Options:
- Option 1: £5,000 to procure independent third-party advice to assess if a legal case can be pursued.
- Option 2: Up to £100,000 to procure expert services necessary to pursue the legal case.
- Options are applied for separately; prior use of Option 1 is not required before applying for Option 2.
Application Process:
- Applications open from 2 December 2024 to 28 February 2026.
- Applicants must independently decide to pursue legal action based on prior enforcement or assessment.
- Applications are submitted via designated online forms for each funding option.
- Decisions on applications are aimed to be made within 14 working days, with feedback provided if not funded.
- Guidance and support are available through official government publications and contact emails.
Key Features:
- Exclusively for LAs and FRAs to support legal enforcement against non-compliant building owners.
- Focus on buildings with significant fire safety defects.
- Supports both initial legal case assessment and full legal pursuit.
- Encourages faster remediation, reducing risks and costs for residents.
- Promotes knowledge sharing and improved enforcement strategies across authorities.
This fund addresses a critical gap in resources for regulators to enforce building safety remediation effectively in England.
