Interim Remediation Scheme for Fire Safety Defects in Apartments and Duplexes

The Interim Remediation Scheme is for the funding of emergency fire safety defect works in apartments and duplexes, constructed between 1991 and 2013.

The Scheme is administered by the Housing Agency on a nationwide basis, and provides for the full funding of interim measures (emergency fire safety defect works) in order to provide an acceptable level of fire safety in buildings, pending completion of full remedial works.

Full remedial works, which will include all necessary fire safety measures as well as those related to water ingress and structural damage, will be funded under a statutory scheme that will be legislated for in 2024. Work is currently advancing on drafting this legislation.

Apartments and duplexes built between 1991 and 2013 qualify for the Interim Remediation Scheme, where the fire safety defects were caused by defective design, workmanship or materials that breached the Building Regulations that applied when the property was built.

The scheme does not cover defects arising from:

• the building not being adequately maintained
• sinking funds not being adequately funded to replace building and safety systems when they expired
• later building work not being managed correctly, leading to defects

Owners’ Management Companies (OMCs) will receive funding to carry out the necessary remedial works. Thus, only applications from authorised representatives of OMCs will be considered. Funding will not, under any circumstances, be directly allocated to any individual homeowner through this Interim Remediation Scheme.

A whole building approach will be taken to remediate relevant defects and to improve the safety of all occupants in the building. This means that all parts of the building (for example: the common areas, the individual apartments) must be considered together when addressing defects.

It is intended that, in principle, full funding will be provided for all eligible works necessary to achieve an acceptable level of fire safety in the building, pending completion of the full remedial works. To ensure value for money and good governance regarding Exchequer funding, appropriate terms and conditions apply to such funding.

You can apply via the Housing Agency’s website.

You should complete the Interim Remediation Scheme Application Form in full.

Documents

• Proposed approach to support remediation of defects in apartments and duplexes: Your questions answered - published by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage
• Code of Practice for the Remediation of Fire Safety Defects: Guidance for Owners’ Management Companies: Building Professionals and Local Authority Staff in the context of the Fire Services Acts 1981 and 2003 (December 2023) - published by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage
• Fire Safety Guide for Building Owners and Operators: Guide for persons having control under Section 18(2) of the Fire Services Acts 1981 and 2003 (August 2023) - published by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage
• Defects in Apartments: Report of the Working Group to Examine Defects in Housing (July 2022) - published by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage
• Code of Practice for Fire Safety Assessment of Premises and Buildings (March 2022) - published by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage