Cras wrote:
I've been trying to buy a flat for god knows how long, and everything that could go wrong so far has gone wrong. So post January this year as part of the Grenfell fire follow-up there's a new process for lenders to assess risk of issuing mortgages on flats. The valuer conducts a valuation. If the building is taller than 18m or the valuer notes that there are cladding materials that may possibly be combustible then the lender requires that the buyer provide an EWS1 form completed by a fire safety certified chartered surveyor to confirm that the cladding materials will not support combustion.
There are problems with this.
Firstly, the surveyor is not a fire safety certified chartered surveyor, therefore if there is cladding, the valuation will by necessity state that there are cladding materials that may possibly be combustible, triggering the EWS1 process even in low-rise buildings
Secondly, there are nowhere close to enough fire-safety certified surveyors to meet the demand for these forms
Thirdly, insurers are advising the certified surveyors not to fill out and sign the EWS1 forms due to liability risks
It's effectively impossible right now to buy or sell a flat with any cladding of any kind.
Is this a particular flat, or just any that you have seen?
I understand this in principle, but as with many other things, in practice...
I'm sorry this is causing you issues though.
It's the one I'm currently living in, which is extra frustrating! Means I'm less likely to lose it though