Energy saving 'quick fix' solution that could ruin your life and cost £1,000
A 'QUICK-FIX' energy saving solution that promises to reduce bills could actually destroy lives.
Installing insulation around the house is a well-known way to prevent heat loss and reduce gas and electricity costs.
Attic roll, cavity wall and floor insulation are options, while DIY measures such as window tape and foam lining for pipes can be cheaper but effective.
But one method – spray foam insulation – can leave households unable to sell their homes or get a mortgage.
The method can also leave people thousands of dollars out of pocket to repair or even reduce the value of your home.
One affected couple said their lives “fell apart” after insulation was installed in their attic and later discovered it was unsellable.
The Sun revealed how lenders are routinely rejecting mortgage applications for homes with foam insulation in the roof, affecting an estimated 250,000 homes.
While it is not illegal, it must be done by professionals and is only appropriate under certain circumstances.
rogue traders are taking advantage of elderly and vulnerable people desperate to reduce their rising gas and electricity bills.
Wales Against Scams Partnership (WASP) has warned it has seen a surge in these scammers misleading older people concerned about their bills.
The method “can too often be marketed as an easy and simplistic solution,” the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) said in a report last year to help consumers.
“In fact, the installation of spray foam should really be viewed as a significant and fundamental change to a home that needs to be carefully considered and planned,” it added.
WASP said one of the targets was persuaded to spend £3,500 on spray foam but found they could not sell their home.
Spray foam insulation risks
According to the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), there are several risks associated with spray foam insulation
RICS advises consumers to carry out appropriate checks on the material used, as there are different types of spray foam, and to be aware of the risks involved.
Anyone considering insulation should use independent experts, who are both commercially and independently separated from the installer and manufacturer.
Hidden problems – It can make it difficult to spot other problems with the roof as it limits the view of the space, for example roof damage from storms or a leak.
Moisture and condensation – Poorly installed insulation can lead to moisture and uncontrolled condensation, which can cause damage.
Once installed, the measures are not easy or cheap to reverse.
Removing it from a typical three-bed home can cost anywhere between £3,000 and £4,000, depending on how much foam needs to be disposed of, says Ollie Creevy, director of Insulation Advisor.
Read the full RICS consumer guide at www.rics.org/news-insights/rics-release-new-spray-foam-consumer-guide.
They were forced to spend a further £2,000 to remove it and by the time they put it back on the market two months later the value of the property had fallen by £15,000.
Sam Young, policy officer at charity Age Cymru and head of WASP, said: “We understand that many older people are concerned about how they will pay their fuel bills this winter and as a result may be even more vulnerable to rogue traders.
“Previous studies have shown that older people are the age group most likely to be targeted by scammers. National Trading Standards data shows that 85% of doorstep scam victims are over 65.”
The group urged older people to seek expert advice first.
Rogue traders can often target older people at the door, where they can use high-pressure sales tricks to agree to an installation.
But cold calling is also a tactic used by cowboy installers, and there are also online advertisements that prey on people.
Tony Neate, CEO of Get Safe Online, said: “While you traditionally think of rogue builders approaching you on your doorstep, it's also important not to be fooled by online advertisements. Before you commit, make sure you do your homework.
“Check that the builder is reputable by looking at reviews and make sure your mortgage lender will agree to any changes you are considering making.”
Our lives 'fell apart'
A COUPLE whose home became unmortgable after insulation was installed said their lives were 'falling apart'.
Fiona and Andre Barton paid £4,926 for spray foam insulation in their loft.
But the couple, from Midlothian, Edinburgh, were later told that houses with spray foam insulation are 'unmortgable'.
The couple, who planned to move, realized they could not sell their home due to the attic insulation.
After finding a specialist company in Liverpool, Fiona and Andre paid a further £5,490 to remove the spray foam insulation and the two containers needed to remove it.
The couple are keen to raise awareness of professional-looking insulation scams, in the hope that others can avoid the costs and stress they face.
“They sounded very professional and credible, otherwise we wouldn't have gone through with it,” said Fiona.
“The guy said he could come and look at our loft because it might need to be upgraded with insulation.
“I thought our coop was fine because we had a lot of insulation put in, but he came back down and he had pictures on his iPad showing us that the coop was damp.
“They arrived at just the right time, it was -5 degrees outside, it was Christmas, and they told us our coop was inadequate.
“He had taken some measurements on a machine and said it looked pretty bad, but he had a solution with this spray foam insulation, and would we like to hear more about that?
“We said yes, so a guy showed up that night and gave us all this information about how great it was and how it would definitely help keep our house warm.
'He said it would reduce the cost of our fuel – and given the cost of living crisis this seemed to be the way to go.
“Spray foam insulation was something I had never heard of. I did a quick search on the company's website and of course the reviews were all five stars.
“He also said that if we decided on the spot to go through with it, he would give us a price reduction.
“We decided it sounded reasonable, and we went ahead with it – and they had it installed quickly.
When the couple came to sell their house, a surveyor noticed the spray foam insulation.
“The surveyor told me we couldn't market it at the moment and asked if we had any information or contracts,” Fiona said.
“I looked at my emails and found nothing. The only way I knew the company that had done this was because I paid by credit card and I had the receipt.
“Then the alarm bells started ringing. I thought, 'Oh my God, we've been cheated.'”
The pair then had to try to fix the problem and pay more than the installation cost.
“It was such a large amount that they had to remove it from our loft,” says Fiona.
“My world collapsed. We had already bought our next house and had to sell to move.”