This is a welcome step forward for customers who want to sell homes which have building safety concerns.
How will I know if my building meets the criteria?
To be considered for mortgage applications, evidence must be provided which shows:
• There is an agreed and costed remediation plan in place
• The building is being remediated by the developer
• The building is covered by a government funding scheme, such as the Building Safety Fund (BSF)
• Or the building is covered by leaseholder protections contained in the Building Safety Act
If you’re not sure whether your building meets the above criteria, please contact us on buildingprojects@a2dominion.co.uk. We will do everything we can to support leaseholders and shared owners.
What evidence will I need to provide?
We recommend you check with lenders directly who will advise on what documents they will accept as evidence of government funding or remediation.
Will I still need an External Wall System (EWS1) form?
This depends on the lender. Please look at the RICS website for more on how the EWS1 process works and when the form is needed. Even if an EWS1 form is not required, other paperwork proving remediation work is in place may be requested.
An EWS1 form is a set way for a building owner to confirm to valuers and lenders that an external wall system, including any cladding, has been assessed by a suitable expert and whether any works are required to meet fire safety standards. It is not a fire safety certificate and if your building does not have one, this does not mean it’s not safe.
Which lenders are currently involved? (as of 09 January 2022)
The six lenders are:
• Barclays
• HSBC
• Lloyds
• Nationwide
• Natwest
• Santander
They have confirmed that they will offer the same interest rates and mortgage terms as anyone else, and they won’t charge any extra costs because your building is being remediated. Other than the additional evidence you need to provide, we understand that applying for these mortgages should be very similar to applying for any other mortgage.
What if my building is under 11m?
We have completed inspections on all our buildings over 11m in height which are in our building safety programme. In July 2021, the government issued a statement saying that EWS1 forms are not needed on buildings below 18m in height. In line with this, we aren’t carrying out inspections on buildings under 11m in height, unless they have been identified as needing further investigations. If this is the case, we will contact customers directly.
Where can I get further help?
If you have any questions about your lease or shared ownership arrangement, please get in touch with our Customer Contact Centre.