Mortgage lenders withdraw offers over disputed fire safety certificates

Adam Kiziak has been accused of using another engineer’s credentials without permission to sign off fire safety certificates for high-rise flats, the BBC has reported.

The Institution of Fire Engineers (IFE) suspended Kiziak in August 2024, but his company, Tri Fire, is understood to have continued issuing safety certificates.

These documents, known as EWS1 forms, assess the fire risk of buildings and are required by many banks and building societies before approving mortgages.

Kiziak’s lawyer told the BBC: “Any allegation of fraudulent activity is strenuously denied.”

Impact on mortgage approvals

Major lenders, including NatWest and Nationwide, are now rejecting mortgage applications for properties with fire safety certificates issued by Tri Fire.

Sam Ireland, a first-time buyer, told the BBC that his mortgage offer was withdrawn after the lender identified Tri Fire as the issuer of the property’s fire safety certificate.

He said: “You feel completely powerless… It’s just scuppered the whole thing.”

The BBC has also identified other buyers whose applications have been rejected due to concerns over certificates linked to Kiziak’s company.

Allegations from fire engineer Awwal Salisu

Awwal Salisu, a fire engineer based in Saudi Arabia, claims his signature and IFE membership number were used without his permission to approve EWS1 certificates.

Salisu told the BBC that he had agreed to assess up to 100 buildings for Tri Fire but found that many had insufficient information to justify certification.

He later discovered that EWS1 forms had been issued in his name for buildings he had not reviewed.

“I am very angry about it,” Salisu said. “I’ve had sleepless nights – my reputation is at stake.”

He has reported his concerns to the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors, the IFE, and UK Finance.

IFE response to investigation

The IFE has confirmed that it is investigating a high-profile case involving a sanctioned member but did not name Kiziak directly.

In a statement on 24 January 2025, the IFE said: “We are fully committed to transparency, accountability, and are bound by our duty to handle all cases with strict confidentiality.”

The institution stated that any additional complaints would be investigated and that sanctions could be modified accordingly.

It added that disciplinary investigations overlapping with legal proceedings must be paused until those proceedings conclude.

Fire safety expert investigated over alleged misuse of engineer’s credentials: Summary

The BBC has reported that Adam Kiziak, a fire safety expert, is under investigation for allegedly using another engineer’s credentials to approve fire safety certificates.

The IFE suspended Kiziak in August 2024, but his company, Tri Fire, is understood to have continued issuing EWS1 forms.

Major lenders, including NatWest and Nationwide, are now rejecting mortgage applications for properties certified by Tri Fire.

Saudi Arabia-based fire engineer Awwal Salisu has alleged that his signature and IFE membership number were used without his knowledge on documents he had not reviewed.

The IFE has acknowledged the seriousness of the case and confirmed that disciplinary proceedings are ongoing.

It stated that it would not provide further details until investigations are completed.

Kiziak’s lawyer denied any fraudulent activity.