Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Michael Gove has secured the signatures of 39 developers on the developer remediation contract.

The signatures mark another step towards ending the building safety scandal.

By signing the contract, developers will be legally bound to pay to fix their unsafe buildings and eligible developers who fail to sign will not be able to operate freely in the housing market.

The government says it has made clear that eligible developers who refuse to sign the contract or fail to comply with its terms face significant consequences.

Those on the list include the top 10 biggest housebuilders in the UK. 

Signatories represent a substantial proportion of the housing market, and the signed agreements will raise at least £2bn for remediation costs.

Commenting on the 39 signatures, Gove says: “I have been clear all along – those that are responsible for this crisis must pay. So, I am grateful to those developers who have done the right thing today by signing this legally binding contract. We will be monitoring their progress on remediation very closely, to ensure this work is completed urgently and safely.”

“For those developers that have taken responsibility, today offers the chance for a reset, so we can get on and build more of the safe, decent and affordable homes we so desperately need.”

“To those developers that have failed to sign the contract without good reason, let me be very clear – we are coming after you. If you do not sign, you will not be able to operate freely in the housing market. Your investors will see that your business model is broken – only responsible developers are welcome here.”

“But today should not be about developers, or about government. Today is about innocent leaseholders. I want to put on record my apology to all leaseholders for the years of misery and hardship you have endured. You should never have been ignored, asked to pay and let down.”

“Today marks a turning point – and an important step towards resolving this crisis. There is so much more to do, but I will always act to protect leaseholders and end this injustice.”

A full list of developers who have signed the contract can be found here. 

The government says it will publish further information next week on how developers will be prohibited from carrying out major development or from receiving building control approval unless they sign and adhere to the contract, using Building Safety Act 2022 powers.