28 April 2025
Customer Information: EWS1 Certificate Renewals
We are aware of the updated guidance issued by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) regarding EWS1 certificate requirements.
The update to the industry statement on cladding covers the following key points:
- Use of EWS1 certificates older than five years: Lenders may continue to rely on EWS1 certificates that are over five years old in the mortgage application process, where an EWS1 certificate is required.
- Invalid EWS1 signatories: Where an EWS1 certificate has been signed by an invalid signatory (i.e. Tri Fire) lenders may consider alternative evidence regarding the building’s remediation status and whether the lease qualifies under the Building Safety Act 2022 (England).
It had been widely reported that most mortgage providers were no longer accepting EWS1 certificates signed by Adam Kiziak or issued by Tri Fire following the expulsion of Adam Kiziak by the Institute of Fire Engineers (IFE), which had been affecting customers seeking to sell or remortgage their properties. We anticipate that the new guidance will help prevent these issues in the future. Additionally, removing the requirement to renew certificates, should help avoid further delays caused by the high demand for qualified assessors. However, this is guidance only, and individual lender policies and risk appetites may vary.
We are closely monitoring lenders’ responses to this new guidance and will assess how it impacts our current EWS1 renewal programme, which is currently underway for certificates approaching expiry or those originally signed by Tri Fire.
We are working closely with building freeholders, Resident Management Companies (RMCs), and other clients to agree on the next steps for our 2025 renewal programme.
Our EWS1 renewals are being conducted in accordance with the current industry standard, PAS 9980, alongside a Fire Risk Assessment of the External Wall (FRAEW). The new RICS guidance does not affect the FRAEW process.
We understand that some customers may still require urgent updated EWS1 certificates. We are working as quickly as possible to support all customers, prioritising those with urgent needs. However, please be aware that external factors, such as high demand for qualified engineers, may cause unavoidable delays.
If you require an urgent update, please inform your Property Manager as soon as possible.
