myMoat Login
myMoat Login

EW1S form explained

EWS1 form explained

  • What is an EWS1 form?

  • The External Wall System Form (EWS1 Form) looks at how fire-safe homes are, focussing on the external walls and how easily a fire could spread.

    The form has to be completed by a specially qualified surveyor and is only needed for blocks with flats that are:

  • 18 metres or higher (generally 6+ storeys)

    An EWS1 form is generally required if the building has cladding, curtain wall glazing or vertically stacked balconies with combustible materials.

  • 11 metres to 18 metres (5 to 6 storeys)

    An EWS1 form is required if there is a significant amount of cladding (roughly one-quarter of the elevation), specific combustible panels or vertically stacked combustible balconies.

  • Below 11 metres (4 storeys or fewer)

    An EWS1 form is generally not required, unless there are known high-risk cladding materials present.

Grasmere Gardens 056

Selling, re-mortgaging or staircasing your home

It is becoming more common for mortgage lenders to check fire safety when assessing homes in apartment buildings. Their focus is the external walls and balconies and what they are made of, along with any other significant fire safety concerns.

If the mortgage lender’s valuer or surveyor has concerns, then they will ask you for an External Wall System Form (EWS1 Form) for the mortgage application to continue.

Image shows three people sat on sofa talking

If your building doesn’t meet lenders’ requirements

In some cases where fire safety remedial works are required and are yet to be completed, an EWS1 form may not be available for a building. Lenders may also not approve an application to sell, remortgage or staircase.

We understand that this can be upsetting and frustrating, and we apologise to any customers affected by this issue. We’re working hard to carry out remedial work in the buildings we own and monitor progress of remedial works in the buildings we don’t own. As a short-term solution, if you are a shared owner and we own the block, you can sub-let your home. 

  • Sub-letting your home

    To sub-let your home, you’ll need a formal variation to your lease via a Licence. You will only be able to sub-let your home whilst works are ongoing and the home is not mortgageable.

    Please contact our Post Sales Services Team for further information.

    Email the Post Sales team

Requesting an EWS1 form

  • We’ll acknowledge any requests for an EWS1 form within five working days and give a full response within 15 working days. Not all buildings require an EWS1 form; some lenders simply ask for a copy of the most recent Fire Risk Assessment, that we can provide upon request. 

    We’ll supply you with an EWS1 form on request if we have one on file, but we may not hold an EWS1 form for your building because:

    • We’re not the freeholder: We’re not legally obliged to have EWS1 surveys carried out for buildings we don’t own. You will need to contact your building’s managing agent for this information. We can help you do this.
    • Demand for EWS1 surveys is high: There are fewer than 300 surveyors on the Government’s accredited list and this has led to significant delays in carrying out surveys.
    • The building does not need an EWS1 form. EWS1 forms are not designed for individual terraced, semi-detached, or detached houses, bungalows or developments considered to be non-domestic.

    To request an EWS1 form or Fire Risk Assessment, contact the Post Sales team.

    Email the Post Sales team

Other fire safety information

Our fire safety procedures Fire safety tips Fire evacuation strategy Cladding and remediation Keeping your home safe