OVER 30,000 homes have been fitted with botched insulation under schemes run by the government.
It is the first time a figure has documented the scale of damage to homes impacted by substandard work carried out under two Government schemes, according to the BBC.
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Both the ECO4 and the Great British Insulation Scheme were launched by the previous Conservative government in April 2022 and May 2023.
Households with the least energy-efficient homes were encouraged to install the measures to help tackle fuel poverty and help reduce energy bills.
The schemes let eligible households apply for free energy-efficiency upgrades, including solid wall insulation, through their energy supplier or local council.
Solid walls – meaning they have no gaps or cavities – are usually found in properties built before the 1920s.
But widespread cases of poor-quality solid wall insulation installed in homes under the schemes has put them at risk of developing damp and mould.
It follows an investigation by the outlet last year, which led to the government to carry out an audit of 60,000 homes insulated under the scheme.
The preliminary findings of the audit, published in July, suggest that in more than 30,000 homes insulation was not fitted properly and this could lead to damp and mould growth.
Miatta Fahnbulleh, the minister for energy consumers, said in a previous statement that early evidence suggests a “majority” of installations of solid wall insulation were not done “to the appropriate standard”.
A DESNZ spokesperson said:“This scale of non-compliance is unacceptable and we are working at speed to ensure substandard installations are identified and remediated as quickly as possible, with no cost to the consumer.
“We will soon set out plans to overhaul the fragmented system of consumer protections we inherited, to restore trust and help more people cut their bills.”
What if I’m affected?
Not all homes that had this insulation fitted will be unsafe or at risk.
If it’s thought you’ve been affected then you’ll be contacted automatically by energy regulator Ofgem.
The Government previously said households can expect to receive a letter from Ofgem explaining how it will check if your home is impacted.
If any issues are found, you will not have to pay to get it fixed – the company that originally installed it will be required to fix it for you.
If the firm has gone out of business, you should be covered by a £20,000 guarantee.
If you have concerns about the solid wall insulation installed in your property under ECO4 or GBIS, or questions about the process for seeking remediation, you can contact Ofgem here:
- ECOhelp@ofgem.gov.uk.
- Freephone 0808 169 444 (lines open 9.30am to 4.30pm, Monday to Friday, excluding bank holidays).
How else can I insulate my home
There are plenty of other safe ways to insulate your home.
You could try adding a layer of mineral wool or sheep wool to your loft or in your roof.
It costs around £900 to insulate a semi-detached home with 270mm of loft insulation, the Energy Saving Trust says.
But it could save you around £230 a year, meaning you would make the cost back in around three years.
Avoid getting spray foam insulation installed as this could actually damage your home and make it difficult to sell.
You can also draught-proof your windows and doors yourself cheaply to prevent heat escaping to save around £40 a year.
A roll of draught insulation tape costs around £5, or you can get a professional in for around £250.
Inefficient boilers can also cost you money on your energy bills.
You can help with this by buying an insulation jacket for as little as £18 to help you save up to £40 a year.
