EWS1 form

Crashy_Time

GDB2222 said:

Can I just point out one thing. When the lenders are being very careful, scrutinising these documents, they are protecting buyers as well as themselves. The very, very last thing you want is to buy the flat and then find out later that the EWS1 was invalid. That would leave you in an unsaleable flat that's very possibly unsafe as well, with the prospect of very expensive repairs to make it safe.

Very good advice.

EvenOlderSteve99

Anyone can get an EWS-1 survey done by a fire engineer. I have an email from the RICS that confirms this. You do not have to be the building owner. You could be the leaseholder of a flat or a potential purchaser of a flat. Send an email to standards@rics.org and ask them. Also ask them if the form is part of legislation. It's not.
On a separate note, in the UK we buy property on an as seen basis, and as the purchaser, we get surveys done to ensure the property is satisfactory. Surveys such as a valuation survey and a building survey are ordered and paid for by the purchaser. It seems like the purchaser should should get their own EWS-1 form filled in by ordering the survey and paying for it.
On yet another note, because the EWS-1 form is not legislation, the landlords do not need to have this survey done. After all, if you think about it, the landlord gets no benefit from having it done. Again, get the purchaser to procure and pay for the survey.
If you purchaser asks for a for, tell them to do one of two things. Get it themselves of go to a lender that is not asking for them. They do exist.

GDB2222

EvenOlderSteve99 said:

Anyone can get an EWS-1 survey done by a fire engineer. I have an email from the RICS that confirms this. You do not have to be the building owner. You could be the leaseholder of a flat or a potential purchaser of a flat. Send an email to standards@rics.org and ask them. Also ask them if the form is part of legislation. It's not.
On a separate note, in the UK we buy property on an as seen basis, and as the purchaser, we get surveys done to ensure the property is satisfactory. Surveys such as a valuation survey and a building survey are ordered and paid for by the purchaser. It seems like the purchaser should should get their own EWS-1 form filled in by ordering the survey and paying for it.
On yet another note, because the EWS-1 form is not legislation, the landlords do not need to have this survey done. After all, if you think about it, the landlord gets no benefit from having it done. Again, get the purchaser to procure and pay for the survey.
If you purchaser asks for a for, tell them to do one of two things. Get it themselves of go to a lender that is not asking for them. They do exist.

I gather that you are having a great deal of trouble selling your flat, as there just aren't enough mugs around at the moment, and I'm sorry about that.

Of course, the very last thing a buyer should do is find a lender that doesn't need an EWS1, even if such a lender can be found. That would mean that they would be buying a flat that's unsaleable, as there's a shortage of mugs to buy it later on.

tuan1812

Hi, I am having an issue with the postcode in EWS1 form and would appreciate if someone can help: Basically, the building has two different postcodes (depending on flat number), and the EWS1 form is missing the postcode of the flat I am buying. Halifax says that it cannot accept this form as the EWS1 form is missing a postcode relating to the subject property. 

Do you know if it's a known issue, and how to fix it? It is strange to me that the same block same building can actually have two postcodes, depending on the flat number. Appreciate your help!

user1977

tuan1812 said:

Hi, I am having an issue with the postcode in EWS1 form and would appreciate if someone can help: Basically, the building has two different postcodes (depending on flat number), and the EWS1 form is missing the postcode of the flat I am buying. Halifax says that it cannot accept this form as the EWS1 form is missing a postcode relating to the subject property. 

Do you know if it's a known issue, and how to fix it? It is strange to me that the same block same building can actually have two postcodes, depending on the flat number. Appreciate your help!

That sounds an absurd "computer says no" stance for them to take. Surely they can check with their valuer that it's for the correct building if they need to?

kingstreet

I've got one where the EWS1 says Riverlight 4 while the actual block is 4 Riverlight. Esurv & Halifax won't accept it so we're trying to find a lender/surveyor that will.

p_mc_2

Its too broad a subject for a forum post but its worthwhile searching 'Cladding External Wall System (EWS) FAQs'

On that RICS page there are a number of guides and documents but one of the more useful is the RICS Guidance Note

"Valuation of properties in multi-storey, multi-occupancy residential buildings with cladding 1st edition, March 2021"

Marshaltown

Don't know if any of this will help. EWS means External Wall Surface. It does not matter if the block is constructed in brick etc it includes anything external, including cladding, balconies etc in a block (not individual flat), that could be combustible and cause fire spread. The RICS have produced guidelines but a number of mortgage lenders do not follow them. Each mortgage lender will have their own individual approach to this issue.