Frequently Asked Questions

I’m trying to staircase/re-mortgage/sell my flat

You may find that your chosen mortgage lender is requesting an EWS1 form. If you live in a block over 18 metres tall your building will be on the first phase of our building safety programme for the work - check here for more details. If your building is under 18 metres tall (around seven storeys) you won’t be able to get an EWS1 form as they are only for tall buildings. We are extending the building safety programme to buildings under 18 metres in phases according to priority and for these buildings we will be producing evidence of the checks we have undertaken to comply with the government guidance.

Contact us for a copy of your fire risk assessment  for your buildings and speak directly with your mortgage broker or lender.

How long will it take to get the EWS1 for my building?

If your building is over 18 metres tall it will be part of phase one of our building safety programme. The work to complete the form can be complex and challenging – we can’t rely on the information from when the building was constructed so in most cases we have to physically open the walls to inspect them. There are a limited number of professionals qualified to carry out this work, and they are in high demand across the country.

Can Southern Housing Group help me?

We are doing our best to complete our building safety programme at pace and carry out this work safely. If you are in hardship because of the timing of the programme for your building please speak to us. We want to support our residents and recognise that this is stressful time for many. There may be other options that we can discuss with you that could help.

What else is the Group doing?

Together with our colleagues at the G15, a group of the largest housing associations in London, we are calling on the government to step in and provide clear guidance for both building owners and mortgage lenders on the proportionate implementation of their building safety advice notes.

Our hope is that this will reassure residents, encourage mortgage lenders to take a more considered view, and give building owners a reasonable and realistic timeframe in which to follow government advice.

What about fire safety?

We would like to reassure our residents that all our homes have an up-to-date Fire Risk Assessment. These are independently reviewed every year and any recommendations are dealt with immediately or, where appropriate, put into a programme of work to be completed within a suitable timeframe.