Sectors · Investment & development
External wall advice for investors & developers.
FRAEWs, technical due diligence and remediation advice for investors, build-to-rent and student accommodation owners, and developers, across single assets and portfolios.
In short: external wall risk affects value, lending, insurance and exit. We give investors, BTR and PBSA owners and developers an evidence-based view of the external walls through FRAEWs, technical due diligence and remediation advice, so decisions rest on what the walls are actually made of.
Where we help
- Acquisitions. As part of technical due diligence, we review existing FRAEWs, EWS1 forms and fire records, identify gaps and say whether further appraisal is needed.
- Assets you hold. FRAEWs to PAS 9980:2026 on individual buildings, or portfolio programmes across 50+ properties with a consistent register.
- Refinancing and sale. FRAEWs and EWS1 forms that give lenders and valuers a clear outcome.
- Legacy schemes. Appraisal and remediation scoping for buildings you developed, with project management where works follow.
- New buildings. Façade design reviews and construction quality records that make a future FRAEW straightforward.
Why a proportionate FRAEW protects value
PAS 9980:2026 is a risk-based method. A good FRAEW does not treat replacing the cladding as the default answer: it establishes what the walls are, assesses the risk in the context of the whole building and recommends what is proportionate. At One Vesta Street, a 169-flat higher-risk building, evidence from two days of opening-up led to a Low risk rating with no remediation needed.
From 1 November 2026, the RICS standard for valuations says EWS1 forms should only be requested where there is a clear reason, and in some cases a FRAEW summary can be relied on instead. A clear executive summary therefore matters to lenders and buyers.
Build-to-rent and student accommodation
BTR and PBSA buildings often combine rainscreen cladding, render, balconies and mixed façades, and they are occupied all year. We plan inspections and openings around occupancy, keep openings targeted, and our own contracting team makes good, so operations carry on with little disruption.
Hotels and mixed-use buildings
PAS 9980 was written for blocks of flats, but its approach can be applied with care to other buildings. At Travelodge Birmingham Maypole we combined a condition assessment with a PAS 9980 appraisal and set out clearly how the method had been adapted.
Relevant experience
Frequently asked questions
Can you review a FRAEW as part of due diligence?
Yes. We review existing FRAEWs, EWS1 forms and fire records as part of technical due diligence, identify any gaps and advise whether a new or updated appraisal is needed.
Can you carry out FRAEWs across a fund's portfolio?
Yes. We have the capacity to undertake portfolios of 50+ properties, with a desktop triage, risk-ranked inspections, consistent reports and a portfolio register.
Will a FRAEW satisfy lenders?
Lenders and valuers rely on a clear outcome. From 1 November 2026, the RICS standard allows a FRAEW summary to be relied on instead of an EWS1 in some cases, and we provide an EWS1 form where one is still needed.
Can PAS 9980 be used for hotels or other non-residential buildings?
PAS 9980 was written for blocks of flats, but its approach can be applied with care to other buildings, provided the report explains how the method has been adapted.
Related reading
Talk to us
Need clarity on an asset or portfolio?
Tell us about the buildings and the decision you need to make. We typically respond within one working day.