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Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG)

Remediation Enforcement Support Fund

MHCLG funding for local authorities and fire and rescue authorities in England to buy third-party legal and expert support for enforcement cases against landlords who are failing to remediate unsafe buildings with fire safety defects, or who are responsible for paying for remediation. It comes in two options applied for separately: £5,000 for independent advice on whether a legal case can be brought, and up to £100,000 for the expert services needed to pursue the case. Each application is for one specific case meeting gateway criteria (building in England, at least 11 metres or 5 storeys, at least 2 dwellings, a fire spread safety defect), and decisions are based on meeting those minimum criteria, subject to available funding.

Apply on the funder’s site
You could get
£5,000 – £100,000
Deadline
133 days left
28 February
Effort
Light
short form, little evidence needed

Who can apply

  • Only local authorities and fire and rescue authorities in England, and only the LA or FRA in whose area the building is situated
  • Each application is for a specific case the regulator has independently chosen to pursue based on previous assessment or enforcement work
  • The building (or at least one building in a multi-building case) must be in England, be a self-contained building or self-contained part of a building with at least 2 dwellings, be at least 11 metres or 5 storeys high, and have at least one defect that puts people's safety at risk from the spread of fire
  • Local authorities already receiving MHCLG New Burdens funding must already have taken initial enforcement action (such as serving an Improvement Notice) that has not been complied with; for Option 2 they must also show the case is complex or needs specialist legal advice (for example a Right to Manage or Resident Managed Company building, or seeking a Remediation Order or Remediation Contribution Order instead of using Housing Act powers)
  • For RO or RCO cases the building must contain a relevant defect under section 120 of the Building Safety Act 2022 and the respondent must be a relevant landlord (section 123(3)) or, for an RCO, a specified body corporate (section 124(3))

What it funds

Third-party expert support for regulators using their legal powers to pursue those responsible for remediating buildings or paying for remediation:

  • Option 1: £5,000 to procure independent advice from third-party professionals to assess whether a legal case can be brought
  • Option 2: up to £100,000 to procure the third-party expert services needed to pursue the legal case
  • Cases under the Building Safety Act 2022 (Remediation Orders and Remediation Contribution Orders), the Housing Act 2004 or the Fire Safety Act 2021, including complex cases such as buildings with unclear management or ownership or slow or unresponsive landlords
  • Irrecoverable VAT

MHCLG recommends Option 1 advice is produced within 4 weeks by a solicitor or barrister regulated by the SRA or Bar Council (suggested minimum 4 years' experience), and could cover whether there is a claim, whether there is a solvent respondent, evidence needed, pre-action steps, estimated cost to final hearing and the merits of the claim.

What it will not fund

  • Legal advice received and paid for before applying to the Fund (funding is for new activity only)
  • Costs above £5,000 (Option 1) or £100,000 (Option 2), which the regulator must cover
  • Recoverable VAT
  • Buildings that are Houses in Multiple Occupation, hostels, hotels or purpose-built student accommodation
  • Buildings outside England, under 11 metres and under 5 storeys, or with fewer than 2 dwellings

How to apply

  1. Read the Remediation Enforcement Support Fund application guidance on GOV.UK
  2. Optionally contact LocalRegulatorEngagement@communities.gov.uk to discuss a potential case before applying (recommended for buildings covered by the Developer Remediation Contract, and required to confirm funding availability for Option 2 cases that may run beyond the end of March 2027)
  3. Complete the online application form for Option 1 or Option 2 (linked from the guidance and the Find a Grant listing), confirming the gateway criteria and giving building details, safety concerns, mitigation measures, previous contact with MHCLG, what the legal advice is to achieve and other funding options considered
  4. For Option 2, also explain the legislation you plan to use, who you plan to pursue and how likely the case is to succeed
  5. MHCLG aims to decide within 14 working days; successful regulators agree a Memorandum of Understanding, procure and pay their own third-party experts, and are paid a lump sum (Option 1, aiming within 35 days) or quarterly in arrears (Option 2)
  6. If unsuccessful and you believe the gateway criteria are met, appeal by email within 14 days of the outcome; MHCLG responds within 14 days

The two options are assessed separately and a regulator does not need Option 1 funding before applying for Option 2. Applications close at 11:59pm on 28 February 2027 and are funded subject to availability.

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