Nearly nine years after Grenfell, thousands of buildings still await cladding remediation. This article examines the current state of play, funding mechanisms, and the path forward.. The Scale of the Problem The UK's cladding crisis remains one of the most significant building safety challenges in the nation's history. As of early 2026: An estimated 4,000+ buildings over 11m still have unsafe cladding Over 100,000 leaseholders continue to live in affected buildings Total remediation costs are estimated at £15 20 billion Many residents have been trapped in unsellable homes for years, unable to move and facing crippling service charges for interim safety measures Funding Mechanisms Building Safety Fund (BSF) £5.1 billion allocated for remediation of buildings over 18m Covers removal and replacement of unsafe cladding Applications have been subject to significant delays Prioritisation based on risk assessment Medium Rise Scheme For buildings 11 18m in height Developer funded where possible through the Developer Remediation Contract Government backed scheme for buildings where developers cannot be identified Leaseholder contributions capped at defined levels Developer Remediation Contract Major developers signed up to fund remediation of buildings they developed Covers buildings over 11m with life critical fire safety defects Over 50 developers have pledged to participate Enforcement through the Responsible Actors Scheme — non participating developers face planning permission restrictions The EWS1 Process The External Wall System (EWS1) form remains central to the mortgage lending landscape: Required for buildings where the external wall system needs assessment Option A — confirms no significant risk (enables mortgage lending) Option B — identifies risks requiring remediation (may prevent lending) The process has been criticised for delays, inconsistency, and cost Government guidance has sought to reduce the number of buildings requiring EWS1 assessment Current Challenges 1. Pace of Remediation Remediation is proceeding far too slowly: Many buildings registered with the BSF in 2020 are still awaiting works Contractor capacity is a significant bottleneck Design and specification challenges for complex buildings Planning permission requirements add further delays 2. Hidden Defects Cladding is often just the most visible problem: Missing fire barriers within the external wall system Inadequate cavity barriers in rainscreen cladding Combustible insulation behind non combustible cladding panels Defective fire stopping at floor edges and party walls These hidden defects often increase remediation costs significantly 3. Interim Safety Measures While awaiting remediation, buildings require costly interim measures: Waking watch patrols (£10,000 £20,000+ per month) Common fire alarm systems to replace waking watch (£50,000 £150,000) Enhanced fire risk assessments Resident communication and evacuation planning Insurance premium increases (often 300 500%+) What Building Owners Should Do 1. Commission an external wall assessment by a competent assessor if not already done 2. Apply for funding through the appropriate scheme 3. Implement interim safety measures based on fire risk assessment recommendations 4. Engage with leaseholders transparently about timescales and costs 5. Appoint a project manager for complex remediation schemes 6. Review insurance arrangements annually 7. Maintain records — all assessments, correspondence, and decisions form part of the golden thread The Path Forward Progress is being made, but the scale of the challenge means the cladding crisis will continue for years. Key developments to watch: Expansion of the Responsible Actors Scheme to capture more developers Potential legislative changes to accelerate remediation timescales Development of new testing and assessment methodologies to speed up evaluations Insurance market developments as remediated buildings re enter the standard market Long term structural changes to building regulations to prevent future crises For cladding assessment, remediation management, and interim safety measures, contact Magnus Opifex.