A Lib Dem MP has highlighted what he describes as an unfolding EWS1 form scandal after a fire safety consultant was sanctioned for unprofessional conduct.

Al Pinkerton, MP for Surrey Heath, has submitted an urgent question to the House of Commons Speaker to ask the housing minister about EWS1 forms relating to Tri Fire and fire safety engineer Adam Kiziak, which have signed thousands of these forms, “often filled in inappropriately and incorrectly”.

He was contacted by a resident at North Court (pictured) in Camberley town centre, which is currently being remediated, but features in dozens of rental property adverts on Rightmove and local agents’ websites, suggesting many flats belong to private landlords.

Lenders who wanted assurance on the safety of external wall systems as a condition of approving mortgage applications after the Grenfell Tower fire ask for a EWS1 form from flat owners wanting to sell or re-mortgage. They can then demonstrate that external walls have been assessed by a qualified professional and meet fire safety standards.

“If you own a building in a flat in Camberley or anywhere in Surrey Heath where Adam Kiziak or Tri Fire have signed your forms you may find yourself unable to sell your flat because banks will not lend on these properties at the moment,” says Pinkerton, who wants anyone affected to contact him.  

Suspended

The Institution of Fire Engineers ethics panel reports that it suspended Kiziak’s IFE membership for six months although last week added that the sanction had been extended due to “complaints received, which are currently under investigation, and will remain in place until these investigations are concluded”.

Breaches of its code of conduct included failure to hold adequate professional indemnity insurance, where required and where exclusions in PI policy are work prohibitive failed to make these known, failure to maintain and work within professional competence, along with a breach of its ethical principles of accuracy and vigour.

Kiziak has responded previously to the IFE suspension, saying: "I am confident that at all times I have acted in accordance with the IFE ethics procedure and my duty as an incorporated engineer and member of the Institution. I do not accept the claims that have been made. I do not agree with the outcome of the panel”.