There’s been a major shake-up in the property world, and if you’re selling a flat, you need to pay attention.

A recent investigation has exposed serious flaws in some fire safety certifications (EWS1 forms)—with one fire safety expert accused of using another engineer’s signature without permission. As a result, major lenders like NatWest and Nationwide are pulling mortgage offers on affected properties.

In plain terms? If your EWS1 form was issued by the wrong firm, your buyer’s mortgage could be at risk. No mortgage, no sale.

Why is this important?

EWS1 forms were introduced after the Grenfell Tower tragedy to assess fire risk in buildings with cladding. They’re meant to give peace of mind to lenders, buyers, and sellers. But if your form isn’t valid, you could face serious delays—or worse, your sale could fall through entirely.

The latest controversy involves TriFire, a company responsible for hundreds of EWS1 forms covering potentially thousands of owners, and has left many sellers in limbo. Some buyers have already lost their mortgage offers overnight.

We urgently recommend checking the name of the firm who issued your EWS1 to determine if it was handled by the company under investigation, TriFire. It isn't known exactly how many certificates are affected, but estimates suggest approximately one third of certificates issued in 2020 and 2021 may have been handled by TriFire.

What should you do now?

If you’re selling a flat, now’s the time to take action and make sure your EWS1 form is valid. Here’s what you need to do:

✅ Check who issued your EWS1 form – Was it Tri Fire? If so, you may need a reassessment.

✅ Verify its validity – Contact your managing agent or freeholder to confirm the details of your fire safety certification.

✅ Be proactive – If your EWS1 form is in doubt, getting a fresh assessment before listing could save you time and stress.