EWS1 Form
Quick answer
An External Wall System assessment form, introduced after Grenfell, that records whether a building’s external walls and cladding meet fire-safety standards. It is completed by a qualified professional and is typically valid for five years for the whole building. Lenders often require one before mortgaging a flat in a taller block with cladding.
At a glance
- Purpose
- External wall / cladding fire-safety assessment
- Validity
- Usually 5 years, whole building
Full guide
Read the complete landlord guide on EWS1 Form
Deadlines, fines and step-by-step compliance in our in-depth resource.
Open full guideWhy EWS1 Form matters for landlords
For a landlord buying or remortgaging a flat in a medium- or high-rise block, a missing or failed EWS1 can make the property effectively unmortgageable and unsellable until remediation is done. The form is building-wide, so it depends on the freeholder or managing agent obtaining it, not the individual leaseholder. If you own or are buying a flat in a clad building, confirm the EWS1 position early — it is one of the biggest hidden risks in leasehold buy-to-let.
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Official sources
LetCompliance editorial reviews this entry every quarter against the sources above. Always confirm specific duties with a qualified solicitor or your local council.
Related terms
EICR (Electrical Installation Condition Report)
A formal inspection of the fixed electrical installation, wiring, consumer unit, sockets and light fittings, by a qualified electrician. Required every 5 years for all private rented properties in England under the Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020. Maximum civil penalty: £30,000 per property.
EPC (Energy Performance Certificate)
A certificate rating a property's energy efficiency from A (most efficient) to G (least efficient). Rental properties in England must meet at least an E. Properties rated F or G cannot be legally let under MEES. An EPC is valid for 10 years. Maximum fine: £5,000 per property.
EPC C Proposal
Confirmed government policy to raise the minimum EPC rating for rental properties in England from E to C. Confirmed in the January 2026 Warm Homes Plan, the standard applies to all privately rented homes from a single deadline of 1 October 2030 (the earlier "2028 for new tenancies" proposal was scrapped in a U-turn). Landlords should plan upgrades now but verify the detailed rules on GOV.UK.
Eviction Ban
A government-imposed moratorium on enforcing possession orders, used during the COVID-19 pandemic. No eviction ban is in force as of 2026. Bailiffs can enforce possession orders once 14 days' notice has been given.
Accelerated Possession
A fast-track court procedure used under a Section 21 notice in England and Wales. Abolished for new claims from 1 May 2026 because Section 21 no longer exists. Possession is now pursued under Section 8 using a specified ground.
AST (Assured Shorthold Tenancy)
The most common form of private tenancy in England. From 1 May 2026 all existing ASTs converted to assured periodic tenancies under the Renters Rights Act 2025, and new fixed-term ASTs can no longer be created for most residential lets.