EWS1 stands for External Wall System 1. It is a form that is completed by a qualified surveyor to assess the fire safety of an external wall system in a residential building. The form was introduced in 2018 in response to the Grenfell Tower fire.

The EWS1 form is required for buildings over 18 meters tall or six storeys in height that have external wall systems that are made from combustible materials, such as aluminium composite material (ACM) cladding. The form is not required for buildings that have already been assessed by a qualified surveyor and found to be safe.

The EWS1 form is graded as A, B, C, or D, with A being the safest and D being the most dangerous. Buildings with a D grade are considered to be at high risk of fire and are typically not suitable for sale or let.

The EWS1 form has been controversial, with some people arguing that it is too expensive and causes delays in the sale and letting of properties. The government has announced plans to reform the EWS1 form, but it is not yet clear when these changes will be implemented.

There are a few reasons why you might need an EWS1 form.

• If you are selling or letting a property in a building with external cladding that is made from combustible materials. The EWS1 form is a fire safety assessment form that is completed by a qualified surveyor. The form will assess the fire safety of the external wall system and will give a grade of A, B, C, or D, with A being the safest and D being the most dangerous. If the building receives a grade of C or D, then the property may be difficult to sell or let.
• If you are buying or renting a property in a building with external cladding that is made from combustible materials. Your lender or letting agent may require you to have an EWS1 form before they will agree to lend you money or let you the property.
• If you live in a building with external cladding that is made from combustible materials. Your building manager or landlord may require you to have an EWS1 form before they will agree to carry out any work on the building.

If you are unsure whether you need an EWS1 form, you should contact your lender, letting agent, building manager, or landlord. Alternatively you are welcome to give us a call.

EWS1 exists to help ensure the safety of residents in buildings with external wall systems that are made from combustible materials. The form was introduced in 2018 in response to the Grenfell Tower fire, which was caused by a fire in the building’s external cladding. The fire quickly spread throughout the building, killing 72 people. The EWS1 form is designed to help to prevent similar tragedies from happening in the future.

The EWS1 form is completed by a qualified surveyor who assesses the fire safety of the external wall system. The form will give a grade of A, B, C, or D, with A being the safest and D being the most dangerous. If the building receives a grade of C or D, then the building owner will be required to take steps to make the building safe, such as removing the cladding or installing fire protection measures.

The EWS1 form has been controversial, with some people arguing that it is too expensive and causes delays in the sale and letting of properties. However, the government has defended the form, saying that it is necessary to protect the safety of residents.

The EWS1 form is not regulated by any one organization. It was developed by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) and the Association of Residential Managing Agents (ARMA), and it is supported by the government. However, there is no central body that is responsible for enforcing the use of the form or for ensuring that it is completed accurately.

This has led to some concerns about the reliability of the EWS1 form. Some people have argued that it is too easy for surveyors to give buildings a safe grade, even if they are not actually safe. Others have argued that the form is too expensive and that it is causing delays in the sale and letting of properties.

The government has announced plans to reform the EWS1 form, but it is not yet clear when these changes will be implemented.

We don’t comment on the legality of selling or letting a property without an EWS1 form. However, what we can confidently tell you is many (if not all) lenders and letting agents may require you to have an EWS1 form before they will agree to lend you money or let you the property. This is because the EWS1 form provides an assessment of the fire safety of the external wall system, which is important for both lenders, tenants and insurers.

If you are selling or letting a property in a building with external cladding that is made from combustible materials, you should contact your lender or letting agent to find out if they require an EWS1 form. If you are unsure whether you need an EWS1 form, you should contact a qualified surveyor. Our surveyors can help with this.