The proportion of sales of flats where EWS1 fire safety assessments were required by mortgage lenders rose in the first quarter of 2022, despite the government’s decision to cancel official advice requiring the assessments.

The fire safety assessments, overseen by the RICS, were set up as an attempt to allow flat owners to prove their homes were fire-safe, but have ended up seeing thousands of homeowners trapped in unsellable flats, either unable to secure an assessment because of a lack of willing surveyors, or having had a negative assessment but unable to afford the recommended remediation work.

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