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

To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, where a building has had two EWS1 reports commissioned that have awarded it different ratings, what his Department's policy is on how lenders should decide which one to work with.

An EWS1 form is not a safety certificate or a statutory requirement. Assessments can be reviewed to make sure they are proportionate and building owners or residents may already seek second opinions if they are concerned about the recommendations. The building owner is responsible for commissioning an EWS1 assessment and should therefore clarify which form is to be used in the case of duplicate assessments, including if one is no longer required, referring to the professionals who conducted the assessments as necessary.

Following the July Independent Expert Statement on Building Safety in medium and lower rise blocks of flats, the government agrees that EWS1 forms should not be required on buildings under 18 metres. Where EWS1 forms and assessments have already been completed for buildings below 18 metres and have identified costly remediation work independent experts strongly recommend that these assessments are reviewed to make sure that the proposed solution is cost effective and proportionate.