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The only thing you can do is try another lender tbh.
Each bank is changing their position but it's not consistent between lenders yet. Santander have taken a measured position for a while so are a good option.
But it is down to the surveyor not the lender (from my experience), if the surveyor says one is required the lender will ask for one, if not it won't come up as an issue.
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Metro bank and Halifax
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Santander were dicks with calculating my sole trader income due to covid (about 6 months ago). They just looked at my last 3 months bank statements (like I have a consistent income each month) and wouldn't consider lending above X times the average. TSB were much more realistic and compared 3 years accounts with current income.
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It's a sign that buying a leasehold flat is a bad idea
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mustardbeak
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@Fox
Can anyone help with EWS1 advice?
Friend and his partner are trying to buy a third floor flat in a four storey building in Clapton. It is made of brick and has no cladding or balconies. Despite this, Barclays - their preferred lender - are insisting on an EWS1 which doesn't exist due to the balconies (wut). The housing association haven't done one, because in their view (and mine!) it isn't needed.
Barclays aren't budging, so they've given up with them and are proceeding with Santander, their second choice. Santander have apparently been using a process where they contact the building freeholder/management to discuss the fire risk assessment before they decide if an EWS1 is needed. So it seems they have a much more sensible process than Barclays, but that's no guarantee.
One of them is a freelancer and if Santander doesn't work out they're running out of mortgage options.
Is there anything else they could/should be doing?