Building and Fire Safety
We have fire safety controls in place as to provide safe homes is our priority
Gateway has a fire safety policy to ensure compliance with legislation and good practice guidance. Your home has regular independent Fire Risk Assessments, and actions identified are promptly actioned. We work with the Fire Service to ensure we have implemented procedures so our residents can safely evacuate our properties if required. To learn more about fire and building safety and what to do to protect yourself and your family, please see our fire safety pages in the drop-down menu. Please also ensure you are familiar with the Fire Safety Notice for your building, located in your lobbies and communal areas.
There are currenty six main pieces of legislation applicable to fire and building fire safety in residential buildings, detailed below. Building regulations help to ensure that new buildings, conversions, renovations and extensions (domestic or commercial) will be safe, healthy and high-performing. Detailed regulations cover specific topics, including structural integrity, fire protection, accessibility, energy performance, acoustic performance, protection against falls, and electrical and gas safety. They also lay standards for drains, ventilation, protection against the ingress of water and protection against contamination, including methane and radon gas.
See further information on building regulations from Local Authority Building Control here.
External Wall Surveys (EWS)
Buildings are affected by legislation covering external walls through an External Wall Survey (EWS) as reflected in the Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2021. Gateway are now planning on carrying out building assessments and progress on matters being resolved.
For further information on the EWS inspection process please see the below:
- Why do you need to inspect my building?
- Is My Building Included?
- What is a EWS Assessment?
- What type of Building needs to have EWS1 forms?
- What is the EWS process?
- Will I receive a copy of the survey?
- Who can I speak to about any queries?
- Who will carry out the RAGS Assessment?
- Do I need to provide access to my flat?
- How does this affect selling/ staircasing/remortgage my flat?
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How does this affect selling/ staircasing/remortgage my flat?
We appreciate the stressful impact on residents who plan to move, staircase or remortgage their homes, which has been interrupted as a result of the approach that lenders are taking, and we want to do everything we can to offer support. However, our priority is a risk, and we cannot expedite a Stage 2 survey to obtain an EWS1 report if it means compromising the safety of another block or estate.
We recommend that you speak to an independent mortgage advisor before putting your property on the market, or applying for a mortgage or remortgage. So the lending criteria in relation to EWS1 forms for your property is clear.
- Building Safety