Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps he plans to take to ensure lenders do not demand an EWS1 form for mortgage provision of homes in buildings under 18 metres, unless there is a specific concern of enhanced fire risk from external wall composition.

The EWS1 form was introduced by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) to assist in valuation of high-rise residential buildings for mortgage purposes. Government does not support a blanket approach in EWS1 requests for lower risk properties and is encouraging mortgage lenders to accept other equivalent evidence from building owners for valuation purposes.