Government Grants Equal Access to Building Safety Funding for Social Landlords

£1 Billion Investment to Accelerate Remediation and Boost Affordable Housing

The UK Government has confirmed that social housing providers will receive equal access to building safety funding, marking a significant breakthrough for the social housing sector. Announced in the recent Spending Review, this move unlocks £1 billion of investment between 2026 and 2030 to accelerate remediation of high-rise buildings and improve tenant safety.

Previously, the £5.1 billion Building Safety Fund focused mainly on private building owners, with limited eligibility for social landlords. This change addresses longstanding concerns from housing associations, particularly in London, where safety remediation costs have constrained financial capacity.

Paul Hackett, CEO of Southern Housing Group, called the move a “game-changer”:
“Extending building safety funding access to social landlords will speed up remediation, free capacity to invest in new affordable homes, and support sustainable growth in the sector.”

Ian McDermott, CEO of Peabody, added:
“Equal access to this fund is excellent news and will make a real difference, especially in London.”

Daisy Armstrong, Chair of the G15 Residents’ Group, welcomed the announcement:
“The Government has addressed a fundamental unfairness by providing social renters the same funding opportunities as private leaseholders and developers.”

This announcement accompanies a broader £39 billion, 10-year Affordable Homes Programme, a rent settlement of CPI plus 1%, and a consultation on reintroducing rent convergence. Additional funding includes:

• £2.5 billion in low-interest loansto boost social housing development capacity
• £10 billion for financial investments via Homes Englandto crowd in private investment
• £950 million for Local Authority Housing Fundto increase temporary accommodation
• Continued investment in theWarm Homes Plan (£13.2 billion) and homelessness prevention initiatives

Chancellor Rachel Reeves highlighted the package as a catalyst to unlock hundreds of thousands of new affordable homes and ensure safer, better-quality social housing.