Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what discussions he has had with housing associations to ensure that, where an ESW1 form is required by law, private owners in buildings partly owned or managed by housing associations are issued with the required ESW1 form in a timely manner to ensure that the sale of their property is not unnecessarily delayed; and if he will make a statement.

The External Wall System process (EWS1) was designed by industry to assist with valuation of high-rise residential buildings where cladding may be a concern. Its use is determined by the policies of mortgage lenders. It is not a Government policy or legal requirement and not all lenders use it. It is the responsibility of the building owner, whether freehold or commonholder, to ensure their building is safe.

The Government is encouraging lenders to accept a broader range of evidence to assure themselves of a building’s safety, and building owners to be forthcoming with what information they have. This evidence could include a fire risk assessment that includes external walls, or a recent building control certificate.