News: Martin Hunt and Robert Carrotte pass the RICS EWS assessment course

Residential & Student | Martin Hunt | 7 March 2022

Congratulations to Martin Hunt and Robert Carrotte on being within the second cohort to pass the RICS EWS assessment course! The EWS process, and resulting EWS1 form, is a set way for a building owner to confirm that an external wall system on residential buildings has been assessed for safety by a suitable expert.

The current situation

Unfortunately, the Government is still working towards a targeted, state-backed professional indemnity insurance scheme for qualified professionals on the completion of EWS1 forms. We understand that this should be in place by Easter. However, until a suitable PII scheme is in place, those who have completed the training, cannot undertake instructions unless they have specific cover under their current PII policy.

The current situation is frustrating for all parties as the government backed RICS EWS training scheme is designed to increase the availability of suitably qualified experts to undertake the much needed EWS process.

Whilst we await for the final PII scheme to be announced, we understand that it will only apply to EWS1 assessments on residential buildings over 11m. However, the RICS EWS training only qualifies us to assess residential buildings below 18m. Quite how this will help get all those sub 11m residential buildings assessed under the Fire Safety Act 2021 when it eventually becomes enacted, currently expected in 2023, isn’t clear.

In the interim, please contact Martin Hunt if you have any general questions about EWS or about the giant pig in the photo!

Martin Hunt

Martin Hunt

+44 (0) 7974 186 368 martinhunt@powellwilliams.co.uk

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