Consumer groups have advised homeowners not to install spray foam insulation because of the risks associated with incorrect installation and has written to government outlining their concerns.
HomeOwners Alliance (HOA) and national trade body Property Care Association (PCA) have joined forces to raise awareness of the issues associated incorrectly installed spray foam installation. In the last few weeks the government has moved to take action on poor and incorrectly installed solid wall installations, suspending 39 businesses following ‘routine checks’ by TrustMark, the independent body which oversees tradespeople working in homes. But, say HOA and PCA, the silence on spray foam installation has left the government ‘at risk of arbitrarily helping some customers and not others.’
The joint letter has been issued to Miatta Fahnbulleh Minister for Energy Security and Net Zero and Ali Rushanara MP, Minister for Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government, asking for a roundtable discussion on the issue of spray foam insulation.
Under the Energy Company Obligation 4 (EOC4) and Great British Insulation Schemes, around 65,000 external wall insulation and internal wall insulation measures have been fitted in around 65,000 households. The letter highlights just under four times as many homes (c. 250,000) have had spray foam installation, many of which now find themselves unable to sell or release equity from the property. Recent research conducted by HomeOwners Alliance and the BBC suggested only 25% of mortgage lenders, and no equity release providers, will lend on properties that have spray foam installed as a retrofit measure.
The letter goes on to say both organisations are advising home owners not to install spray foam insulation.
“We are therefore calling on the government to step in to help those homeowners who have spray foam and find themselves in the position where they are stuck and unable to sell, are unable to access equity release products, are faced with hefty remediation bills for removal and/or are being targeted by unscrupulous spray foam removal firms. Many of these homeowners are elderly and vulnerable. The problems and costs involved are so significant that HomeOwners Alliance has issued a warning to homeowners to NOT install spray foam for the time being.”
Signatories of the letter Paula Higgins, Chief Executive at HomeOwners Alliance, and Sarah Garry, Chief Executive of the PCA, said:
“The ECO4 grant and Great British Insulation Scheme (GBIS) both fund the installation of spray foam to eligible households. It can’t be that homeowners convinced to install spray foam at a significant personal financial cost, and in many cases with help of government grants, are now faced with bills for hundreds if not thousands of pounds to remove the product – far exceeding the original installation costs – in order to be accepted by lenders or release equity from their homes.
“We also call on the government’s assistance to stamp out the rogue spray foam removal companies who are scaring homeowners to remove the insulation and are causing even further damage to their homes.”
said Higgins, Garry added:
“In 2023 the PCA worked with lenders and building experts to create our Sprayed Foam Inspection Protocol and early last year created a register so homeowners and lenders could be assured that the people assessing the spray foam had the appropriate training. We understand lenders are concerned that different types of sprayed polyurethane foam can lead to trapped moisture and that the inability of moisture to escape can cause mould, damp and timber decay. These are the same problems as with solid wall insulation. But even when installed by legitimate firms and with the correct paperwork, lenders are still reluctant to lend where spray foam is present. We ask the government to bring together a roundtable of specialist property experts, lenders and equity release companies, to agree whether spray foam should continue to be included within government grants and to agree a process to support homeowners who have spray foam installed.
One Response
Took their time about it. Why not a year-or-so ago when it became apparent there was a huge problem?