Thousands of families are still waiting for their homes to be made safe from hazardous cladding, despite a pledge by the government to resolve the issue by 2029. Over 5,000 residential buildings exceeding 11 metres in height remain affected, with official statistics suggesting that up to 14% of properties in this category may never be completely remediated.
Government data reveals that an estimated 5,900 to 7,400 residential buildings in England, standing above 11 metres, either still possess or previously had unsafe cladding. This represents a significant portion of the housing stock, with only 53% of affected buildings having commenced or completed remediation works as of May 2026.
The financial cost of this problem is staggering, with estimates suggesting that between £11.8 billion and £22.7 billion will be needed to make these homes safe. To address this, the government has committed £9.2 billion in funding, including a contribution from the Building Safety Levy and refunds from developers.
A report by The Property Institute highlights the disparity in remediation rates across different housebuilders, with many schemes still stalled despite initial pledges made four years ago. Only 24% of affected buildings are currently in active delivery, while nearly half (48%) remain in early stages or have yet to start works.
Andrew Bulmer, Chief Executive Officer at TPI, described the data as "genuinely alarming", warning that thousands of individuals are living in unsafe properties and facing years of uncertainty. He called for the government's upcoming Remediation Bill to establish a legally binding deadline for developers and ensure all possible steps are taken to make homes safe.
The Labour Party has repeatedly criticised the government's handling of the cladding crisis, which began with the Grenfell tragedy in 2017. The government is also introducing new requirements for commercial buildings to meet EPC B standards by 2031, where cost-effective, for privately rented non-domestic properties in England and Wales.