Mortgage for a Cladding Problem Flat — Your Options in 2026
The cladding crisis following Grenfell has left hundreds of thousands of flat owners unable to sell or remortgage their properties. The situation in 2026 is improving as the Building Safety Fund remediation continues and lender criteria evolves. But navigating which lenders will consider your specific building requires specialist knowledge.
📋 What You Need to Know About EWS1 in 2026
An EWS1 (External Wall System) form assesses the fire safety of a building's external wall system. Lenders use this to determine whether a flat is mortgageable. The form has four ratings:
- A1/A2 rating: No cladding issues — most lenders will proceed normally
- B1 rating: Some concerns identified but remediation not necessarily required — some lenders proceed
- B2 rating: Remediation required — most mainstream lenders will not proceed. Specialist lenders exist.
- No EWS1 available: Building awaiting assessment — very limited options but some specialist lenders proceed without
Government guidance now limits when EWS1 forms are required — buildings under 11 metres generally do not require one. The Building Safety Fund is remediating buildings over 18m. Lender criteria has improved significantly since 2023 with more lenders willing to consider cladding-affected properties.
🏦 What Lenders Look At
- EWS1 rating of your building (A1/A2/B1/B2 or none available)
- Whether your building is on the Building Safety Fund remediation programme
- Height of the building — under 11m, 11-18m, or over 18m
- Whether you are buying, selling or remortgaging
- Whether your current lender has agreed to a product transfer
❓ Common Questions
What is an EWS1 form and do I need one?
An EWS1 (External Wall System) form is a fire safety assessment of a building's external walls. Under current government guidance EWS1 forms are generally only required for buildings over 11 metres. Your lender or their valuer will confirm whether one is needed for your specific building.
Can I remortgage my cladding-affected flat?
In many cases yes — particularly if your current lender is willing to do a product transfer (switching to a new deal without a full new application). A product transfer often does not require a new valuation and may avoid the EWS1 requirement entirely. Darryl will advise on whether a product transfer or remortgage is the better route.
What if my building has a B2 EWS1 rating?
A B2 rating means remediation is required and most mainstream lenders will not proceed. However a small number of specialist lenders will consider B2-rated buildings particularly where the building is registered with the Building Safety Fund for remediation. Darryl knows which lenders have more flexible EWS1 criteria.
YOUR HOME MAY BE REPOSSESSED IF YOU DO NOT KEEP UP YOUR REPAYMENTS ON YOUR MORTGAGE OR ANY OTHER LOAN SECURED AGAINST IT.
This page is for general information only and does not constitute regulated financial advice. The Mortgage Geezer is a trading style of Access Financial Services Ltd who are authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. The Financial Services Register number is 301173. Registered in England No. 04427489. Registered office address Access Financial Services Ltd, Unit 1 Furtho Court, Towcester Road, Old Stratford, Milton Keynes, MK19 6AN.