Read on Twitter
Over the last month I have taken a deep dive into the world of the EWS
What I have uncovered is a hastily put together system that has caused misery for thousands of leaseholders across the country.
Here is my extensive piece on the chaos caused
https://www.insidehousing.co.uk/insight/ews-crisis-unwrapping-the-form-that-has-caused-mortgage-chaos-70464
What I have uncovered is a hastily put together system that has caused misery for thousands of leaseholders across the country.
Here is my extensive piece on the chaos caused
https://www.insidehousing.co.uk/insight/ews-crisis-unwrapping-the-form-that-has-caused-mortgage-chaos-70464
And after spending weeks digging into the system, here is a short thread on what I think the biggest problems have been for the process which, ironically, was brought in in December 2019 as a way of creating consistency and unclogging the housing market
1. The gov never took ownership of the process from the start. It was left to RICS to come up with a solution, with no statutory power behind it.
This has meant it has been largely left up to the private sector to come up with, and interpret, ways to carry out the process
This has meant it has been largely left up to the private sector to come up with, and interpret, ways to carry out the process
2. The communication between RICS and the gov has been poor at best.
Just weeks after RICS announced its EWS plan for buildings >18m, the government published its consolidated advice note which brought buildings <18m into scope.
RICS seemed completely blindsided by this
Just weeks after RICS announced its EWS plan for buildings >18m, the government published its consolidated advice note which brought buildings <18m into scope.
RICS seemed completely blindsided by this
And the impact the consolidated advice note would have on scaling up the EWS crisis was immense. See these figures
3. The system was created with no real understanding of the shortage of engineers available to carry out the checks.
Think about the number of buildings mentioned above
and then consider that there are well under 300 chartered engineers to carry out those checks
Think about the number of buildings mentioned above
and then consider that there are well under 300 chartered engineers to carry out those checks
More worryingly that number appears to be shrinking 
4. Insurance cover for assessors not properly considered when the form was created.
The insurance market is increasingly wary of providing fire safety cover, and even more wary of providing cover to those that sign EWS forms. This is further exacerbating the capacity issues.
The insurance market is increasingly wary of providing fire safety cover, and even more wary of providing cover to those that sign EWS forms. This is further exacerbating the capacity issues.
You would have thought that those who know most about the insurance market would be key players or advisors during the development of the form. That doesn't seem to have been the case
Most worryingly this means that there might be assessors or engineers carrying out work without insurance cover. This is worrying for leaseholders who may want to claim against them in the future.
5. The unregulated nature and unclear guidance has meant inconsistency is rife.
The guidance around what is an extremely important check, is condensed into 3 pages. There is no outline of what a good EWS check looks like, leading to different approaches and different results
The guidance around what is an extremely important check, is condensed into 3 pages. There is no outline of what a good EWS check looks like, leading to different approaches and different results
And these can be extremely costly for leaseholders as summed up in this piece https://www.insidehousing.co.uk/news/ews-crisis-homeowners-face-huge-fire-safety-bills-on-newly-bought-flats-despite-cladding-assurances-before-purchase-70417
https://www.insidehousing.co.uk/news/ews-crisis-homeowners-face-huge-fire-safety-bills-on-newly-bought-flats-despite-cladding-assurances-before-purchase-70417
And this piece https://www.insidehousing.co.uk/news/ews-crisis-leaseholder-sees-three-flat-sales-collapse-after-four-ews-forms-in-a-year-70424
https://www.insidehousing.co.uk/news/ews-crisis-leaseholder-sees-three-flat-sales-collapse-after-four-ews-forms-in-a-year-70424
And this piece https://www.insidehousing.co.uk/home/ews-crisis-leaseholders-face-50000-cladding-bills-despite-ews-form-stating-no-work-is-needed-70447
https://www.insidehousing.co.uk/home/ews-crisis-leaseholders-face-50000-cladding-bills-despite-ews-form-stating-no-work-is-needed-70447
While there are definitely many inspectors carrying out their work diligently and providing good EWS checks, the system is left open to those that are not as able. This is perfectly summed up here
6. The lack of the government backing means the EWS system is in the hands of the banks.
And when it comes to mortgages, banks approach it as a low risk and high volume industry. If there is any indication that a building may fall in value, then they are not likely to lend on it
And when it comes to mortgages, banks approach it as a low risk and high volume industry. If there is any indication that a building may fall in value, then they are not likely to lend on it
And in an ever changing regulatory system they are more likely to play it safe. Last year the vast majority of banks were asking for EWS on most buildings over 4 storeys. And they are becoming more attuned and sophisticated in terms of fire safety, and, as a result, more cautious
RICS has taken steps to try and reduce the number of blocks that require checks and this will have some impact. However, there are questions of whether it is too late.
Probably the best way to describe this concern is through a horse simile
Probably the best way to describe this concern is through a horse simile
While the guidance has publicly been welcomed by many of the major banks, there are still some that will require checks on exempt buildings https://www.insidehousing.co.uk/news/ews-crisis-some-banks-could-still-ask-for-ews1-forms-on-buildings-exempt-under-new-rics-guidance-70256
And even then what banks are saying publicly, may be different from what is happening on the ground. I have already been contacted by some leaseholders who are trying to obtain mortgages after the new guidance and are still being asked for EWS forms for four storeys and under
Anyway, ramble over.
Please do get in touch if you are currently facing EWS issues.
I am looking to put together a piece in 'leaseholders own words' about their experiences and how the crisis has affected their lives.
DMs are open
Please do get in touch if you are currently facing EWS issues.
I am looking to put together a piece in 'leaseholders own words' about their experiences and how the crisis has affected their lives.
DMs are open
