Fire Safety

Other

Dear Sir,

Miles Dilworth's article in the Daily Mail on the 12th August has prompted some disquiet as it suggests that the Council of Mortgage Lenders is increasingly requiring an External Wall Fire Review for flats regardless of whether they are clad and/or if they are below 5 storeys. The latter appears contrary to RICS guidance which catches flats in developments where the building is over 18 m high or with 5 or more storeys and/or 4 to 5 storey flat developments where there are “specific concerns” regarding fire safety, ie, flats of 3 or less storeys are not required to procure EWS1 to support a mortgage application.

Bearing in mind that there are less than 300 chartered fire engineers with the necessary specialist knowledge available in the country, if the 3 million or so flat developments all need to be surveyed if mortgage funding is to be made available, the buying and selling of flats will grind to a halt.

Are you aware of mortgage lenders requiring an External Wall Fire Review for flats in flat developments of 3 or less storeys? If so, are you aware on the sale and value of members' investment properties and is there a dialogue with the Council of Mortgage Lenders?

I look forward to hearing from you.

Kind regards

Chris