Published: 11/03/2021 By Donna Cowan
The cladding crisis – new RICS guidanceAn article published today by the Negotiator, Nigel Lewis, predicts that there will a surge in desperate leaseholders looking to put their properties on the market due to changes coming in on the 5th April. Simplified External Wall System (EWS) guidance to help leaseholders sell flats in blocks with external cladding has been issued by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors’ (RICS).
This guidance explains how from early April onwards there will be no need for EWS checks on all buildings of four storeys or below, as long as they are not clad in aluminium composite material (ACM), other metal composite materials (MCM) or high-pressure laminate (HPL).
Also, taller buildings won’t need to be checked if they do not have ACM, MCM or HPL present, and if the cladding covers less than 25% of the building.
This new guidance will be welcome news to those owners looking to sell their homes who have been unable to do so.
Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick has welcomed the new guidance, claiming that it means nearly 500,000 leaseholders will no longer need an EWS1 form, and that additional assessors are being recruited to clear the existing backlog for those who live in buildings which still need an EWS1 letter.
Greenwood Property Consultants are well to assist you with any potential house sales. Please contact, Greenwood Property Consultants, Essex House, 42 Crouch Street, CO3 3HH, www.greenwoodpc.co.uk, Tel: 01206 616 820