What Is Cladding?
Cladding is the final form of exterior wall material. It’s often also called finished wall, fixer wall, fire protection system, sprinkler system, safety system, and thermal insulation system. Cladding provides increased safety and insulation for structures that were prior covered with shingles or adobe.
It is also a layer of material used on top of another material to achieve additional thermal mass or to strengthen the structure under which it is placed. The use of cladding was first used to enclose spaces enclosed by earth berm, then, later on, came brick.
Cladding is usually applied to a building or on surfaces such as walls, ceilings, roofs, and even car windows. The use of cladding was every day in medieval and renaissance architecture that featured ornate roofs and ornamented facades.
How Dangerous Is Cladding Issue?
The cladding on Grenfell Tower was made of aluminum composite material, or ACM, which is highly flammable. HPL, or high-pressure laminate, has already proven to be very dangerous, and cladding panels made of compressed paper or wood would be explosive.
According to the Association of Residential Managing Agents, there were 274,000 flats in homes with unsafe cladding; this may amount to over 650,000 citizens. The government has listed 12,000 residential buildings with a height of more than 18 meters.
Only a fire protection survey completed after the new government rules were adopted in December 2018 will tell you if your building is safe.
How Will Cladding Issues Affect My Flat Sale?
We know that an EWS1 form is essential for selling or renting out your property in our country. That’s because it’s the only piece of legislation that requires all listers (buyers and sellers) to provide accurate information on your building, its condition, and even how close it is to your property.
The government has announced that it will introduce a two-tier system for buying high-rise properties in England. The first option is for properties below level 40 of building combined with cladding (known as EWS1).
This means that if a property is taller than 18 meters and has cladding, buyers will need to make an example of the whole building to purchase it. Previously anyone who wanted to buy property had to go through the council’s shortlisting process.
Can I Rent A Flat With Cladding Issue?
Owners are forced to rent out homes at a loss due to cladding issues. Thousands of leaseholders are unable to sell their flats due to dangerous cladding built on their high-rise buildings. This is because the rent they will collect on their apartments is insufficient to cover their mortgage and utility costs.
It is estimated that 492,000 leaseholders in residential buildings with a height of more than 11m (more than three storeys) do not need to perform an exterior wall survey (EWS1) to sell re-mortgage their home.
On average, six out of ten properties sold with an eligibility form. If you have any questions about how tall your property is, it’s worth asking your letting agent. They will need to have a copy of your current EWS-1 for the council to register your flat sale at the council register – and you should get one whether you buy or sell the property.
Can’T Sell Your Flat Because Of Cladding Issues?
There are a few primary conditions that must be fulfilled before a prospective buyer can acquire your flat. You must put down a deposit equivalent to the value of the flat on an approved EWS1 form.
You must provide evidence to the seller showing that they have the right to sell the flat on the terms and conditions agreed with your prospective EWS1 buyer. You must provide proof to the seller indicating that they have the right to sell the apartment on the terms and conditions agreed with your prospective EWS1 buyer.
If your flat has cladding and is taller than 18 meters, you will need an EWS1 form before you can sell or re-mortgage your flat. Unfortunately, many home buyers and sellers in the UK don’t realize that there are issues that can impact their flat when selling or re-mortgaging it.