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

To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, whether he has made an estimate of the number of buildings under 18 metres where a third-party is demanding an ESW1 certificate in contravention of Government requirements.

The EWS1 process is not a statutory requirement. Government supports the independent report published on 21 June 2021, that EWS1 certificates should not be required for buildings below 18 metres in height. However, the decision of when or whether to ask for an EWS1 remains with the relevant mortgage lender. We continue to challenge industry on the use of the EWS1 process.