EWS1

nicole_94

annetheman said:

So I found something useful, specific to Shared Ownership but can probably be used as an indicator for buying leasehold flats in general - a list of lenders and their EWS1/fire risk assessment requirements, as of September 2020:

https://censeo-financial.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Shared-Ownership-Lenders-Sep-20201.pdf

I've actually decided not to reapply with Leeds but to go with Darlington, who are new to Shared Ownership - they will likely want an EWS1 as well (I won't buy without one, in any case), but it's in the process... My broker said they are slow but I'm not in a rush so... wish me luck!

Hope that helps you too @ScottL45

Wow ! Good to know. Thanks for sharing. All the best to your application with Darlington. Hope everything will be smooth for you 🙏🤞

mrsaver11

rachlikeswinter said:

Good yes - except I've found out today the valuer isn't accepting the form because the person who signed it off doesn't 'have the correct qualifications' so the lender won't accept it.
Which is insane because there's about 50 flats in this development which have been sold, using this exact EWS1 form, with people living in them this very minute. So why is my lender saying the form has incorrect qualifications when every other lender for every other flat seems to be happy with it?
Literally no idea what to do now, seems to be some kind of stalemate between valuer and developer.

I'm in the same situation over here. I've engaged my solicitor to look into this, and apparently the seller is working on getting a (this time valid) EWS1 re-issued. Can't wait to get this out of the way. If not, I will have to pull out of the purchase even though I love that property very much.

nicole_94

@annetheman heyyy I received my offer from Leeds through MA! Finally ! Now waiting the offer by post.

annetheman

nicole_94 said:

@annetheman heyyy I received my offer from Leeds through MA! Finally ! Now waiting the offer by post.

WOW! I am thrilled for you, congrats! Enjoy your celebrations *cheers*

rachlikeswinter

mrsaver11 said:

rachlikeswinter said:

Good yes - except I've found out today the valuer isn't accepting the form because the person who signed it off doesn't 'have the correct qualifications' so the lender won't accept it.
Which is insane because there's about 50 flats in this development which have been sold, using this exact EWS1 form, with people living in them this very minute. So why is my lender saying the form has incorrect qualifications when every other lender for every other flat seems to be happy with it?
Literally no idea what to do now, seems to be some kind of stalemate between valuer and developer.

I'm in the same situation over here. I've engaged my solicitor to look into this, and apparently the seller is working on getting a (this time valid) EWS1 re-issued. Can't wait to get this out of the way. If not, I will have to pull out of the purchase even though I love that property very much.

I finally received my updated EWS1 yesterday (thank goodness!) with a correct signature on it. So hopefully yours won't take too long now

amrgardner

We've hit the  proverbial wall (or shall I say cladding!) with the process of trying to sell our flat.

The buyer's lender is requesting the dreaded EWS1 form. However, others in the buildings have been able to enter into agreements.

So the rules are obviously being applied inconsistently.

We've been looking at the latest guidance from RICS and our building seems to fall in a grey area.

Our building has 4no. inhabited floors .... each floor with balconies with timber decks stacked on top of each other.

The building also has a lower-ground door that gives access to an outside car park, bin and bike stores which are both accessed from outside the building and are not habitable.

The result is that the lender's surveyors are coming and assessing the building and scoring it as a 5no. storey with stacked balconies which seems to trigger the dreaded EWS1. However, the stack of balconies is only 4no. as there are not balconies on the lower ground floor, as would be the case with a straightforward 4-storey building.

Meanwhile, other flat owners in the building have had the building scored as 4-storey, where no EWS1 is required. As you can imagine we are quite angry about this.

Has anyone faced this problem or managed to get anywhere? Is there any way to contest the decision by the surveyor? Does anyone know of a mortgage lender that is approaching this with a little more common sense?

Any thoughts on this would be much appreciated.

Regards

SliAbhaile

The current guidance and decision tree from RICS is here 
From what I understand about your building from your post the decision tree says a Form is not needed.
However, my building is also 'EWS1 Form not required' yet my neighbours are being refused re-mortgaging applications because it seems like all lenders are asking for Forms for all flats at the moment.

Has anyone faced this problem or managed to get anywhere? Is there any way to contest the decision by the surveyor? Does anyone know of a mortgage lender that is approaching this with a little more common sense?