‘Spray foam insulation ruined the sale of our house’

Homeowners say they feel “cheated” and “made fun of” after struggling to sell their properties because of spray foam insulation installed under a government scheme.

After that, more than 160 people contacted. BBC research has found that a quarter of Britain’s biggest lenders Rejecting homes where spray foam is found in the roof space.

Robbie Anderson told the BBC that he had “taken advantage” of the previous government’s Green Homes Grant scheme after his home fell short of sales despite having the insulation fitted.

Liberal Democrat MP Tom Gordon has written to the energy secretary calling for “decisive action”, while the Department for Energy Conservation said it was consulting creditors.

Estimates suggest that around 250,000 homes in the UK have this type of insulation, some of which was installed under the previous government’s government scheme.

The Green Homes Grant Scheme, which operated in England, saw installations fully subsidized on certain benefits.

But some of Britain’s biggest mortgage firms are reluctant to deal with homes with spray foam insulation because poor fittings trap moisture and risk roof timbers rotting.

Industry experts have told the BBC. Spray foam is an effective insulator if applied properly, and urgent action is needed to prevent panicked homeowners from needlessly turning to “cowboy” removal companies.

Robbie, 38, had the spray foam installed at the full £5,733 cost under the Green Homes Grant scheme in 2021 as he was then eligible for certain benefits.

He and his wife hoped to move to a bigger house in Nottingham, closer to possible secondary schools for their young daughter.

When they put their house on the market this summer, they immediately received an offer at the asking price. But Roby said he was “shocked” when the buyers’ lenders rejected the property and he pulled out of the purchase.

The work was carried out by a Trustmark approved installer and Ruby was given documentation including a British Board of Agreement (BBA) product certificate.

But prospective buyers’ mortgage provider said it required an insurance-backed installation warranty with at least 10 years, although Ruby has an industry standard of two years.

He told the BBC he felt “a bit cheated” and was confused about what to do next, with 12 months left on his current mortgage.

The couple are planning to remove the insulation themselves after being quoted £4,000.

“I don’t think it’s fair that we should have to pay to have it removed,” Roby said.

“[The government] It has to be held accountable…provided they set out for something they thought was a good thing.”

Spray foam insulation has been used for decades to prevent heat loss from roofs, lofts and attics and comes in two forms.

Closed cell spray foam Once set is hard. It is a better thermal insulator and was previously sold to stabilize failing roofs. But if it’s used improperly or installed poorly, it can stress the wood, restrict air circulation and put it at risk of rotting.

Open cell spray foam Remains soft after setting and is used only for insulation. It is more breathable but is often installed where a highly resistant underlay, such as bitumen felt, prevents vapor from escaping.

Geoff Hunt, an independent chartered building surveyor, said open-cell spray foam had gained popularity in recent years, boosted by government initiatives.

But he said mortgage lenders struggle to assess spray foam, leading to “caution and denial on high-risk applications”, for example, where it is applied directly to ceiling tiles. has been installed.

Properly installed open-cell foam on a sound roof is completely unrelated to roof rot, he added, stressing that there is no need to panic for homeowners with this type of insulation. is not

Philippa, from Wiltshire, also installed open cell spray foam in her loft in 2021, costing £8,662 under the Green Homes Grant Scheme.

He recently accepted an offer from first-time buyers on his property, but said he wouldn’t give them a loan without further paperwork on nationwide insulation.

He said this “frightened” his buyers and they pulled out before they had a chance to provide additional documents.

Nationwide told the BBC it was “unable to make a final lending decision” without documentary evidence that the spray foam was installed correctly or a report on the structural integrity of the roof.

Philippa said she could not afford to remove the insulation and had lowered her asking price to cover the cost for a future buyer.

“I feel like I’ve been cheated by the government,” she said, adding that she didn’t believe spray foam insulation would be available for sale until the product was better understood. be

While the Green Homes Grant Scheme closed in 2021, spray foam insulation is still available under the Great British Insulation Scheme as the government looks to improve the energy efficiency of homes and move towards its 2030 “net zero” target. is

Rikko Wojtolewicz, head of policy at the National Federation of Builders, said they’ve been trying to raise awareness of the potential problems with spray foam insulation for years.

“Government may see spray foam as an easy fix but a non-mortgage, unhealthy or damaged home is a far worse outcome than needing more retrofitting thought or more expensive heating,” he said.

He is asking the government to work with the installation companies.

It comes as Liberal Democrat MP Tom Gordon wrote to Energy Secretary Ed Miliband, calling for “decisive action” and “support” for landlords facing financial implications. is

Mr Gordon said he was moved to take action after he and many of his party’s MPs were approached by constituencies facing unexpected costs, the letter said.

“This government should do more to support them,” he added.

The Department of Energy Conservation told the BBC it had “consulted lenders” about spray foam insulation and would “rely on the views of valuers and surveyors on this matter”.

It states that any work under government schemes should be carried out by a Trustmark registered installer and should be of a high standard with any issues being fixed promptly.

For homes where spray foam insulation is already in place, Homeowners Alliance recommends:

• Checking that you have all relevant documents, including the product certificate, installer warranty, before and after photos, a survey report and product warranty
• Contact the installer or manufacturer to see if you can get a free “health check.”
• Consider an independent assessment by a qualified spray foam surveyor

Currently, it does not recommend applying spray foam until issues with lenders and rogue traders are resolved.