Who Can Complete an EWS1 Form?

For many UK property owners, the EWS1 form has become a critical requirement for selling or remortgaging a flat. Yet, a common source of confusion is understanding who is actually qualified to complete this specialist document. Can any surveyor do it? Can the building manager handle it? The answer is a clear and unequivocal no.

This guide clarifies exactly who can complete an EWS1 form, based on official guidance, and explains why trusting only a qualified professional is essential for building safety and a successful property transaction.

Official Guidance on Competence

The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) and UK Finance collaborated to develop the EWS1 form and have issued strict, clear guidance on who is considered competent to complete it. This guidance is designed to ensure a consistent, safe, and trustworthy process for all parties involved, from leaseholders to mortgage lenders.

The core principle is that the person signing the form must have the necessary expertise to assess fire risk in a building’s external wall system. Without this specific knowledge, any assessment would be invalid and worthless for a mortgage application.

Approved Professionals

An EWS1 form can only be completed by a qualified, accredited professional who is approved under RICS and UK Finance requirements. These professionals must demonstrate a high level of expertise in building construction, fire behaviour, and external wall systems.

The approved professionals typically fall into one of two key categories:

  • Chartered Fire Engineers: Professionals who are Chartered Engineers (CEng) and members of the Institution of Fire Engineers (IFE) are highly sought-after. Their specific training in fire science and building design makes them ideally suited to carry out these complex assessments.
  • Chartered Surveyors and Other Building Professionals: A number of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) and other professionals from accredited bodies like the Chartered Association of Building Engineers (CABE) or the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) can also complete the form, provided they have the correct specialist training and proven experience in assessing external wall fire risk.

The PAS 9980 Standard

The competence of the professional is only one part of the equation. Their assessment must also follow a specific, approved methodology. The industry standard for this is PAS 9980:2022.

PAS 9980:2022 is a publicly available specification that provides a systematic methodology for carrying out a Fire Risk Appraisal of External Walls (FRAEW). Any professional completing an EWS1 survey is expected to follow this code of practice.

Why does this matter?

  • A Robust Framework: PAS 9980 provides a structured, risk-based approach, ensuring that all relevant factors—from the materials used to the building’s height and location—are considered.
  • Lender Compliance: Mortgage lenders and government funding schemes now require assessments to be conducted in accordance with this standard. An EWS1 form not backed by a PAS 9980 assessment will likely be rejected.

Who Is Not Qualified?

There is often confusion over who can carry out this specialist work. To ensure a valid and accepted EWS1 form, it is vital to avoid these common pitfalls:

  • Property Managers or Landlords: While they are the “Accountable Person” with the legal duty to commission the work, they cannot complete the form themselves unless they are also a qualified and accredited fire safety professional.
  • Standard Surveyors: A general building surveyor, while knowledgeable about construction, does not typically have the specialist fire safety expertise required to sign an EWS1 form.
  • Leaseholders: A leaseholder cannot commission their own EWS1 assessment for their individual flat. The assessment must be carried out for the entire building by its legal owner or managing agent.
  • Online Templates: Never rely on unofficial online templates or services. A valid EWS1 is the result of a professional, on-site assessment that follows the PAS 9980 methodology, not a DIY document from a website.

Don’t Risk a Failed Transaction

A successful property sale or remortgage often hinges on a valid and compliant EWS1 form. An assessment completed by an unqualified person will be rejected by lenders, leading to costly delays and frustration.

To ensure your assessment is thorough, compliant, and recognised by lenders, it is essential to work with professionals who are fully accredited and insured for this specific type of work.

Fill out the form below to connect with qualified and insured fire engineers who can provide a transparent and competitive quote for your building’s EWS1 assessment.