Re-cladding in the UK has never been more urgent. Buildings need to be made safe, funding routes are clearer than ever, and contractors are ready to deliver. Yet across the country, many projects are still stuck in neutral. The reason? Management companies dragging their feet when it comes to signing remedial works agreements (RWAs).
The paperwork problem
Before a re-cladding project can start, a remedial works agreement has to be signed. It’s the contract that sets out scope, responsibilities, and liabilities. Without it, nothing moves. In theory, it should be straightforward. In practice, too many of these agreements are bogged down in endless delays.
For residents living in unsafe buildings, that delay isn’t just frustrating — it’s frightening. For building owners, it means higher insurance costs, stalled programmes, and reputational risk. For contractors like us, it means skilled teams waiting on the sidelines when they should be on site making homes safe.
Why the delays happen
So why are RWAs such a stumbling block?
- Risk aversion: Some management companies are hesitant to sign anything that clearly assigns responsibility, even when that clarity is essential.
- Complex ownership structures: In many blocks, multiple freeholders, managing agents, and leaseholder groups all have to agree, and alignment takes time.
- Knowledge gaps: Some management companies simply don’t have the technical understanding to evaluate remedial designs, so they stall while seeking outside advice.
- Negotiation tactics: Delays are sometimes used as leverage to push back on costs or shift obligations.
Whatever the reason, the outcome is the same: projects stay on paper while unsafe cladding stays on buildings.
The human cost of delay
We can’t forget that behind every stalled project are real people. Families are living in homes they know aren’t compliant. They face rising service charges, sky-high insurance, and the emotional toll of constant uncertainty. Every month of delay adds to that pressure.
As contractors working directly with residents, we see this first-hand. And we know that the relief residents feel once works begin is huge. Confidence starts to return the moment scaffolding goes up and progress is visible.
The industry-wide impact
These delays don’t just harm one project — they hold back the entire re-cladding programme. Government funding through the Cladding Safety Scheme is in place, but too much of it is sitting unused because RWAs haven’t been signed. Supply chains lose momentum, skilled labour is underutilised, and delivery targets slip.
What needs to change
This is where government needs to step in. At Next Gen, we believe the solution isn’t just about encouraging management companies to move faster — it’s about standardising RWAs at a national level.
Imagine if every re-cladding project started with a government-endorsed, standard-form remedial works agreement. Clear, consistent, and accepted across the board. That would:
- Remove ambiguity: Everyone would know their responsibilities up front.
- Cut negotiation time: Less room for endless back-and-forth on legal wording.
- Build trust: Residents and building owners could sign with confidence, knowing the framework had government backing.
- Accelerate delivery: Contractors could mobilise faster, unlocking funding and getting projects on site sooner.
This kind of intervention isn’t radical — it’s practical. We’ve already seen government step in with building safety levies, funding schemes, and technical guidance. Standardising RWAs is the next logical step if we’re serious about fixing unsafe buildings at scale.
Our role as contractors
While we push for standardisation, we don’t sit back and wait. At Next Gen, we get involved early. We engage directly with management companies and leaseholder groups, explain the technical side of the project in plain English, and help de-risk decisions.
And because we bring scaffolding, logistics, and façade expertise under one roof, we can simplify agreements by offering clients a single, packaged solution. That makes the RWA easier to draft, easier to sign, and easier to get moving.
“We don’t believe in hiding behind paperwork. We believe in starting work, solving problems, and making buildings safe again.”
Looking ahead
The re-cladding market has stabilised, but progress is still being held back by red tape. Standardised RWAs could be the key to unlocking stalled projects, speeding up delivery, and restoring confidence across the industry.
Residents shouldn’t have to wait for safety because of paperwork. Building owners shouldn’t see projects stall because of drawn-out negotiations. And contractors shouldn’t have teams on standby when they’re ready to build.
It’s time for government and industry to work together to clear this logjam. At Next Gen, we’re ready to play our part — delivering safe, smart, and fully managed re-cladding projects that move forward, not get stuck in the starting blocks.
👉 If your project is stalled by paperwork, talk to us. We’ll help you cut through the noise and get your re-cladding moving.
