Catch 22: A Route to Funding for Social Housing Providers

Published: 25/07/2025

In July, Homes England’s updated Remediation Acceleration Plan was published, which included a commitment for social housing providers to have access to remediation funding in the same way as private sector landlords.

The update also includes the published Joint Plan with social landlords and regulators, which is intended to accelerate the remediation of social housing in England. At the heart of the Joint Plan is a commitment by the government to invest over £1 billion in new funding, giving social landlords equal access to government remediation schemes for the first time.

The Joint Plan contains 22 Action Points; a kind of roadmap and checklist rolled into one. For housing providers, this represents both a major opportunity and a clear directive to act quickly, transparently, and to a high technical standard. The 22 action points are literally providing a route to funding. No catch!

Challenging Figures

Homes England's early estimates indicate that around 1,200 social housing buildings with unsafe cladding are not included in a government fund, nor have any remedial works commenced, with a high proportion of these buildings now being eligible for government remediation funding.

Some of the 229 social buildings that are already in a government remediation scheme and did not start remediation work by the end of June 2025 will be eligible for top-up funding.

The government wants to encourage the relevant responsible parties to apply for funding as soon as possible. There is no time to waste!

Twenty-two into Three Does Go

The 22 action points contained within the Joint Plan support the three primary objectives of government:

Fixing buildings faster
Identifying all at-risk buildings
Supporting residents

The Joint Plan and the 22 actions for social landlords, government and regulators, point the way to accelerating remediation and to improve resident experience before, during and after remedial works. This includes social landlords signing up to the Code of Practice for Remediation of Buildings.

How Harris Associates Can Help

We are a Homes England-accredited assessor on the Cladding Safety Scheme panel, with an in-house team of chartered surveyors, engineers, cost consultants, façade and fire safety specialists. Our services encompass the entire remediation process, from external wall fire risk assessment to remediation project delivery, and we hold industry-leading public liability insurance of £5 million per claim.

In-House FRAEWs and EWS1s

We have undertaken over 150 Fire Risk Appraisals of External Walls (FRAEWs) in-house, to PAS 9980:2022 standards. These reports are essential for funding eligibility and scoping works proportionately.

Full Project Management of Remediation Works

We oversee the entire remediation process using trusted contractors — ensuring:

Continuity from FRAEW to completion
Technical and regulatory compliance
Clear communication with residents
Proportionate, efficient delivery without unnecessary cost

NRS Data and Compliance Support

We help clients:

Structure and submit building data for the NRS
Prepare for audits and reporting
Align records with Building Safety Act requirements

Portfolio Risk Reviews

We identify at-risk buildings through:

Portfolio-wide screening
Targeted investigations
Scoping recommendations based on our verified FRAEWs

Resident Impact Management

We assist with:

Waking watch replacement planning
Resident engagement throughout the works
Completing the Remediation Programme Insurance Survey

Social housing providers should act decisively. We can support you at every stage, from assessment and compliance to project delivery and funding support. If you're managing buildings that may contain unsafe cladding or want to understand your obligations, please get in touch today.

With national coverage, we offer a bespoke solution to enable you to comply with the latest legislation. We are experts in statutory compliance and fire safety-related matters with experienced and qualified technicians, surveyors, engineers, and project managers. If you're a social housing provider, collaborating with an experienced consultancy like Harris Associates can streamline the remediation process, ensuring that buildings are made safe for residents as promptly as possible.

With our holistic approach to facade remediation, proven track record, and commitment to quality and safety, plus our industry-leading PI, Harris Associates is ready to help building owners and managers navigate this complex challenge and lead the way in addressing the ongoing facade crisis.

For more information on our services, assistance, or advice on these latest developments or any related fire safety or regulatory matter, please contact us.