For owners and buyers of flats in larger blocks, building safety has become a central concern. The cladding on the outside of a building, once an afterthought, now sits at the heart of whether a flat can be sold or mortgaged. The EWS1 form is the document that often holds the key.
Why cladding matters
The external wall system of a tall building affects how fire behaves, and concerns about certain cladding types prompted a wave of safety checks. Lenders grew wary of flats in blocks whose external walls had not been assessed, because the cost of remedial work can be very high and fall on leaseholders. That caution rippled through the market.
What the EWS1 form is
The External Wall System form, known as EWS1, records the outcome of a fire safety assessment of a building's external walls by a qualified professional. It is not a survey of an individual flat but of the whole building. A satisfactory form reassures a lender that the external walls do not pose an unacceptable risk.
- Whole building the form covers the block, not one flat
- Lender requirement often needed before a mortgage is offered
- Valid for years once issued, it applies to all flats in the block
The effect on sales
Where a building lacks a satisfactory assessment, buyers may find lenders unwilling to proceed, leaving flats hard to sell and owners feeling trapped. Reforms and funding schemes have eased the position for many buildings, but the picture varies, and the responsibility for the form lies with the building owner rather than the individual seller.
What buyers should do
If you are buying a flat in a block of any height, ask early whether an EWS1 form or equivalent building safety information exists and what it concluded. Your solicitor and lender will want to see it. Establishing the building's safety status at the outset saves you from a sale that collapses weeks down the line.