EWS1 forms: what affects the cost and who pays

An EWS1 form is a single page, but the work behind it can range from a short desktop review to weeks of investigation. That is why prices vary so much from one building to the next.

What drives the cost

• Option A or Option B: an Option B assessment needs a fire engineer to assess combustible materials and is usually significantly more involved than Option A.
• Existing information: good as-built drawings, specifications and product data reduce the work. Missing information means more investigation.
• Intrusive inspection: opening up the wall to confirm what is behind the cladding needs access equipment, contractors to open and reinstate, and time on site.
• Building size and number of wall types: each distinct wall build-up must be understood.
• Balconies and attachments: these must be assessed too.
• Access: scaffold, cherry pickers or rope access add cost.

Who pays?

Usually the building owner or freeholder commissions the EWS1, and the cost may be recovered through the service charge where the leases allow. Leaseholders protected by the Building Safety Act 2022 have limits on what they can be charged for remediating historical safety defects. Whether those protections apply to the cost of an EWS1 depends on the circumstances, so take advice for your own building.

Do you need one at all?

RICS has published a second edition of its standard on valuing flats in buildings with cladding, effective from 1 November 2026. It narrows the cases where valuers should ask for an EWS1, and in some cases accepts other evidence such as a PAS 9980 appraisal. Before paying for a form, check whether the building actually falls into the cases where one is needed.

Getting the most from the work

If a PAS 9980 appraisal is also needed for the fire risk assessment or safety case, commissioning both together can avoid repeating the intrusive investigation. We will tell you which you need before you spend anything.