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<p>Guidance on eligibility criteria for the Waking Watch Relief Fund is published
on Gov.uk at <a href="https://gbr01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.gov.uk%2Fguidance%2Fwaking-watch-relief-fund&data=04%7C01%7CBSP_PQ%40levellingup.gov.uk%7Ca56077c67497415397ab08da07fe98a3%7Cbf3468109c7d43dea87224a2ef3995a8%7C0%7C0%7C637831087304246022%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000&sdata=V8zxpVUGv71ofx%2FR9oSLPxQDNBSjZQPvfyM97AZXt7Q%3D&reserved=0"
target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/guidance/waking-watch-relief-fund</a> and for the
Waking Watch Replacement Fund at <a href="https://gbr01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.gov.uk%2Fguidance%2Fwaking-watch-replacement-fund&data=04%7C01%7CBSP_PQ%40levellingup.gov.uk%7Ca56077c67497415397ab08da07fe98a3%7Cbf3468109c7d43dea87224a2ef3995a8%7C0%7C0%7C637831087304246022%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000&sdata=VDb2CjF%2FZS8smTtPdXK3vbdwvH3yQz0fC9LIkyBYbfA%3D&reserved=0"
target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/guidance/waking-watch-replacement-fund</a>.</p><p>We
have not made an assessment of the costs incurred by leaseholders who installed fire
alarms before the eligibility date for the Waking Watch Relief Fund. However, data
on average Waking Watch costs for approved Waking Watch Relief Fund (WWRF) applications
is published in the Building Safety Programme data release. The latest data is available
here: <a href="https://gbr01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.gov.uk%2Fguidance%2Faluminium-composite-material-cladding%23acm-remediation-data&data=04%7C01%7CBSP_PQ%40levellingup.gov.uk%7Ca56077c67497415397ab08da07fe98a3%7Cbf3468109c7d43dea87224a2ef3995a8%7C0%7C0%7C637831087304246022%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000&sdata=3TMq%2F9Xmc2aJagsKq1Tr6e33I75gK1xxh04HbCGInD4%3D&reserved=0"
target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/guidance/aluminium-composite-material-cladding#acm-remediation-data</a>.
This shows average cost of Waking Watch is estimated at £167 per month per dwelling.</p><p>We
recognise that Waking Watch is a costly burden for too many leaseholders which is
why Government is providing over £60 million to support the installation of alarms
in buildings to replace costly Waking Watch measures. The Waking Watch Replacement
fund will pay for alarms in all buildings where a Waking Watch is in place where those
costs are passed onto leaseholders. The fund builds on the success of the Waking Watch
Relief Fund which is funding alarms in over 320 buildings. The new fund will pay for
alarms where installation commenced on or after 10 January 2022 – the date the fund
was announced. The Waking Watch Relief Fund paid for alarms installed after 17 December
2020.</p><p>Government funding does recognise that Waking Watch measures have been
in place in too many buildings for too long with leaseholders unfairly picking up
these costs. We have considered how we can use limited public funding to best protect
leaseholders from the continued burden of costly Waking Watch measures. In this case
we have come to the view that government funding must be used to incentivise the right
behaviour. That is the installation of alarms which is consistent with industry led
guidance and best practice. Funding must, therefore, be used to reduce or end the
reliance on Waking Watch measures by installing alarms in as many buildings as possible
so that as many leaseholders as possible can be free of these costs. That is why we
are unable to cover retrospective costs beyond those dates.</p>
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