Matt Western, MP for Warwick and Leamington, has raised what he has called the 'scandal' of false fire safety certificates in Parliament and called for an official register of these certificates.  

Fire safety certificates are also known as ESW1 certificates and were first introduced in 2019 after the Grenfell Tower fire which killed 72 people in June 2017.  

An ESW1 form is required by most banks and building societies when determining whether to lend money on flats in apartment blocks.

The form evaluates the fire risk of a building by considering its overall construction and assessing any cladding. 

Mr Western first became aware of the issue of false ESW1 forms when residents in his constituency of Warwick and Leamington, living in an apartment building got in touch to raise the issues they were having. 

They reported being unable to sell or insure their homes due to their ESW1 form turning out to be false.  

Last month, it was reported that an engineer has been accused of signing off ESW1 certificates using the credentials and signature of another engineer without permission.  

The Institution of Fire Engineers (IFE) has been investigating Adam Kiziak, who's company is called Tri Fire, for potential malpractice. He was suspended by the IFE in August 2024.  

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Various lenders have withdrawn mortgage offers to people who were attempting to purchase flats with ESW1s issued by Tri Fire. 

In the Commons, the MP said, "tens of thousands of homeowners are affected" by false ESW1s and that their homes are now "uninsurable and unsaleable".  

Mr Western called for an official register of ESW1s to be set up and asked for a debate in Government time to further debate the issue.  

The Leader of the House, Lucy Powell MP, responded that the "government is taking these issues incredibly seriously" and said she "will ensure there is ample time for the House to debate these matters." 

On the issue of false ESW1s, Mr Western said: "I have heard first-hand from residents how false ESW1s have left them feeling completely and utterly stuck, unable to sell their home and unable to insure it. Some have already lost thousands of pounds from property sales which have fallen through. 

"It is a scandal. The week after I was first elected as an MP, we saw the Grenfell Tower go up in flames and 72 people lost their lives because of it.  

"Shockingly, over seven years on from that tragedy, the systems in place to try and prevent such a horror happening again are being manipulated, leaving thousands in an awful situation.  

"It is crucial we ensure that we clamp down on this kind of manipulation and give those living in apartment buildings the safety and reassurance they deserve." 

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