Mortgage Lender EWS1 Criteria

Rjj2020

Hi all

We recently had a sale fall through on our leasehold flat. Our buyers mortgage lender was requesting fire safety certificates we do not yet have. Our management company have had the relevant surveys carried out but final reports have yet to be received so our buyer has given up waiting. 

What is frustrating is that our block is a single storey building of six maisonettes. We though this regulation was just for tower blocks and would not affect us but we think the lenders surveyor pointed out we have some wooden cladding on the exterior which they seemingly didn’t like.

The question I have never been able to answer is would this have been different if our buyer has used a different lender? How can you find out each lenders criteria in this area without going through the full application process each time?

I have spoken to some mortgage brokers who just say every lender is being ultra cautious at the moment but also it can depend which surveyor your get sent on the day. Also the guidance seems like it may be changing all the time (particularly with reference to low rise buildings like ours) so have any lenders relaxed their rules recently?

What experiences have other people had with other lenders please? If and when we find a new buyer it would be great to be able to recommend a particular lender. 

Thanks 

Rjj2020

It would be great if perhaps people could share their experiences of what different lenders are requesting and when?

This is the wording of the special condition that our buyers lender (Metro Bank) wrote into their mortgage offer last September:

"The block is clad externally in materials which might be combustible. We require confirmation that the cladding system meets the requirements stated in the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) consolidated Paper of January 2020. This confirmation must come from an independent adviser (as identified in the Paper) appointed by the building owner and/or its agent, in their capacity as the 'responsible person' under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 stating that the cladding is of limited combustibility and that it has been correctly installed and maintained as per the manufacturer’s recommendations or Combustible but has achieved the BR135 classification by passing a BS8414 test and that it has been correctly installed and maintained as per the manufacturer’s recommendations – the confirmation must be provided in letter format (technical documents and full reports are insufficient) and supported by an EWS1 form where the highest floor is above 18m (6 Stories)"

MWT

Rjj2020 said:

- the confirmation must be provided in letter format (technical documents and full reports are insufficient) and supported by an EWS1 form where the highest floor is above 18m (6 Stories)"

At least they are not requiring the EWS1 form in your case though it seems...

Rjj2020

MWT said:

Rjj2020 said:

- the confirmation must be provided in letter format (technical documents and full reports are insufficient) and supported by an EWS1 form where the highest floor is above 18m (6 Stories)"

At least they are not requiring the EWS1 form in your case though it seems...

Yes I think this is true although I never really got the bottom of the difference between this and what they were asking for. I don't know whether what they were requesting might even be more difficult to get to be honest. 

twdclark94

Hi - What was the outcome of this? Did you manage to get the metro bank letter? I am in a similar position now