Building Safety Fund guidance for new applications from July 2022

Introduction

The government announced the Building Safety Fund (Fund) in March 2020 to fund the remediation of cladding on high-rise residential buildings (buildings over 18 metres). The Fund opened for new applications, and with adaptions, on 28 July 2022 for eligible buildings without a funding solution in place.

The Fund is part of the wider Building Safety Programme which aims to ensure that residents of high-rise buildings are safe in their homes - now and in the future.

The Fund meets the cost of addressing life-safety fire risks associated with cladding in high-rise residential buildings, where the building owner or developer can’t afford do so.

The Fund is open for new applications from responsible entities of private or social sector buildings that meet the following criteria:

• buildings that are 18 metres or above (with 30cm tolerance),
• buildings have at least one qualifying residential leaseholder (with the exception of social-sector landlords applying due to financial viability concerns),
• the building must have cladding, as defined in the PAS 9980:2022 code of practice,
• buildings have a Fire Risk Appraisal of External Wall construction (FRAEW) following the PAS 9980:2022 methodology which recommends actions to address fire risks to life safety presented by the external wall system.

All new Applicants should provide a FRAEW following the PAS9980:2022 methodology unless they have:

• committed to or started works to remove and replace cladding on or after 11 March 2020 but before 28 July 2022, and
• not completed works to remove and replace cladding by 28 July 2022 and the application is for these works.

Once accepted, your application will be subject to technical checks. Following successful review you will need to establish your works specification and complete further checks. These are carried out working with DLUHC’s delivery partners - either the Greater London Authority or Homes England.

The Fund’s closure date will be published with reasonable notice.

If you are a leaseholder or resident of a building in the BSF, further support to help understand the BSF process can be found here. We have also published information on leaseholder protections more generally.

1. Application guidance

This guidance is for new Applicants and gives information on the Building Safety Fund, how it will work and what new Applicants can expect during the application process.

Building Safety Fund for addressing life safety fire risks associated with cladding in high rise buildings (England only): new applications from July 2022

If you applied to the BSF in June/July 2020, please refer to guidance for existing BSF Applicants which explains what you need to do to progress your application.

2. How to apply for the Building Safety Fund

Applicants must:

• read the eligibility guidance and ensure that their building meets the criteria,
• complete and submit the application form.

Supporting documents:

• FRAEW Report with supporting documentation (not applicable to your application if you committed to or started works to remove and replace cladding between 11 March 2020 and 28 July 2022 (refer to guidance for more information),
• Evidence of the height of the building,
• Document confirming that the works are not affordable (private registered providers of social housing only),
• Vendor Form SAP7B (private registered providers for Social Housing only).

Further information and details on supporting documents can be found in the guidance.

You can access the Fund’s privacy notice for new 2022 applications here which outlines how and why we use your personal information and your rights and responsibilities.

3. General enquiries

If you are responsible for the safety of a building and have an enquiry about the reopened Building Safety Fund, email: BSFEnquiries2022@levellingup.gov.uk.