Tory ministers have been hailed for finally unveiling £200million to stop another Grenfell - almost two years after the fatal tower block fire.
The government stepped in to remove unsafe building 'cladding', like that used on the West London block, from 170 privately-owned high-rises across the UK.
Previously the government said it was for private developers to fund the repairs themselves.
But dozens of freeholders and developers refused to pay to make their own blocks safe, leaving 20,000 people in limbo.
Campaigners today welcomed the cash but slammed the government for taking almost two years to announce it after the blaze that killed 72 people.
Grenfell United, a group of survivors and the bereaved, said it offered hope to people feeling at risk at home.
But Polly Neate, chief executive of housing charity Shelter, said: "It is a source of deep concern that, nearly two years after the devastating Grenfell fire, this dangerous cladding is still on buildings.
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"It is vital that it is removed as quickly as possible. The first priority of any government must be to protect its citizens, so we welcome today's announcement.
"We look forward to seeing more detail on the scheme and hope it is able to work quickly and effectively to give residents a safe home."
Chartered Institute of Housing chief executive Terrie Alafat said: "Almost two years since the Grenfell Tower tragedy, it is quite frankly unacceptable that so many private tower blocks have been left with dangerous cladding, leaving thousands of people living in fear.
"Together with Inside Housing and many other organisations we have been calling on the government to end this scandal now - so today's announcement from the Prime Minister is very welcome."
Labour ’s Shadow Housing Secretary John Healey said: “It is welcome that the Government is finally giving some help to worried residents in private blocks with Grenfell-style cladding.
"But it is astonishing that it has taken Ministers almost two years to act.
“The Government must now back the further steps Labour has been calling for, and set a deadline to make all blocks safe.”
Lord Porter, Chairman of the councils' body the Local Government Association, said he had been lobbying for action since 2017.
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The Tory peer said: “This announcement will come as an enormous relief to leaseholders who are in no way to blame for the dangerous cladding on their homes.
"They have suffered for far too long."
The money will be made available to remove aluminium composite material cladding from around 170 privately owned high-rise buildings across the UK.
Building owners will have three months to claim the funds, with one condition being that they take "reasonable steps" to recover the costs from those responsible for the cladding's presence.
Prime Minister Theresa May said: "It is of paramount importance that everybody is able to feel and be safe in their homes.
"That's why we asked building owners in the private sector to take action and make sure appropriate safety measures were in place.
"And we've seen a number of private building owners doing the right thing and taking responsibility, but unfortunately too many are continuing to pass on the costs of removal and replacement to leaseholders.
"Today I can confirm we will now be fully funding the replacement of cladding on high-rise private residential buildings so residents can feel confident they are secure in their homes."
A spokesperson for the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government told The Guardian is why the lack of action by some private building owners was “completely unacceptable”.
They added: “Due to lack of progress the government is looking at a range of new additional measures to get building owners to do the right thing.”
Last week, the housing minister Kit Malthouse said: “We have been engaged across government to consider additional interventions, so that progress can be made more swiftly.”
He said he hoped to announce specific measures shortly.
The department insists leaseholders were currently protected from remediation costs in 83 out of 176 residential buildings.
“The growing list of owners and developers who have stepped in includes Barratt Developments, Mace Group, Legal & General, Peabody, Aberdeen Asset Management and Frasers Property,” he said.
“In the social sector we are making good progress,” he added. “In the private sector, progress is slower; I absolutely admit that.
“We need to do something to speed that up, and we hope to increase the pace quite soon. Discussions are ongoing."
