Building safety has been one of the most significant areas of housing policy in Scotland in recent years, and a series of legislative developments are now shaping how the sector responds.
The Housing (Cladding Remediation) (Scotland) Act 2024 established the legal framework for Scotland’s national cladding remediation programme, giving Scottish Ministers powers to arrange assessments, fund and carry out remediation works, and recover costs where appropriate.
It also establishes the Cladding Assurance Register and lays the groundwork for a Responsible Developers Scheme. This is a mechanism designed to ensure developers contribute to remediation costs where they can be held accountable.
The Act is designed to ensure that individual homeowners are not left bearing the cost of historical building defects.
More recently, the Building Safety Levy (Scotland) Act 2026 became law, introducing a new charge on residential property developers to help fund building safety work.
From April 2028, developers of certain new residential properties will be required to pay the levy, effectively creating a dedicated pot of money to cover the cost of cladding remediation in buildings where no responsible developer can be identified or pursued.
Social housing, affordable housing and island-based developments will be exempt, and smaller developers will benefit from an annual levy-free allowance. Over 15 years, the levy is projected to raise up to £450 million.
While still in the early stages, Scotland’s Cladding Remediation Programme has been steadily progressing. As of March 2026, 1,799 expressions of interest had been received, with government-funded Single Building Assessments underway for 149 buildings.
Ed Cooper, Director of Region for FirstPort Scotland, said:
“The safety and wellbeing of residents is our top priority, and we welcome the progress being made to address the legacy of unsafe cladding in Scotland. The legislative framework that has developed over recent years is an important step forward. How this framework is put into practice will be critical. The levy in particular will need to be carefully designed to ensure it raises the funds needed for remediation without creating unintended consequences for housing supply or future housing costs.
“We bring considerable experience in supporting residents and clients through complex building safety matters, and that experience will continue to inform how we engage with this evolving programme. We remain committed to playing our part as the programme develops.”
