Many properties in London which had their cladding assessed for fire risk have become very difficult to sell and are ‘unmortgageable’ after EWS1 forms were filled in incorrectly, Dr Al Pinkerton MP (pictured) has claimed.

The EWS1 form (External Wall Fire Risk Assessment Service) was introduced in the aftermath of Grenfell and is an assessment of the fire safety of a multi-storey building’s external walls.

Concerns raised

Inside Housing reports that after concerns were raised by leaseholders, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government commissioned independent audits that in some cases overturned fire risk assessments by professional assessor, Adam Kiziac.

He has since been suspended by his industry’s professional body, The Institution of Fire Engineers, which said Kiziak “failed to maintain and work within professional competence”.

Buildings affected

There may be a large number of buildings affected as Kiziac was a prolific assessor, with an EWS1 support group on Facebook estimating he may have provided EWS1 assessments for as many as 6,000 buildings.

Kiziak refutes the IFE’s findings, saying, “I am confident that at all times I have acted in accordance with the IFE ethics procedure and my duty as an incorporated engineer and member of the Institution. I do not accept the claims that have been made. I do not agree with the outcome of the panel”.

The Facebook group reveals that many lenders are now refusing to lend on any properties assessed by Kiziac, including Virgin Money, Nationwide and NatWest.

Local MP Dr Al Pinkerton (main image), has taken on the cause of the leaseholders involved and is trying to raise the issue in Parliament. He has asked anyone affected to email him.