Insulating houses to improve energy efficiency should not only improve the lives of the thousands of residents, but it should also considerably reduce the expenditure needed to heat their homes.
The benefits are such that the Government sees its role as helping low-income families to afford remedial work to their homes to enjoy these benefits as well as contributing to the drive towards its net zero targets. That’s the theory, but in practice it doesn’t always work out as planned.
So much so that a Government scheme to improve homes by retrofitting wall insulation could become one of the biggest energy efficiency scandals to-date.
Some of those who signed up for the government-backed schemes over recent years, with a view to making their homes more energy efficient, and more economical to run, have lived to regret it and are now facing a living hell. They are living in homes that are “unfit for human habitation”.
Some of these residents are suffering serious damp and black mould problems, and they are faced with having to pay out thousands of pounds on remedial repairs.
These horror stories are of badly installed insulation work. Commonly it’s incorrectly installed cavity wall, internal wall or external wall insulation, practices that are damaging the reputation of the retrofit industry.
Some homeowners who have been affected find their properties no longer fit for human habitation due to damp, mould and cold spots on walls, particularly related to poorly installed wall insulation, poor oversight and poor skills. The issues make homes uncomfortable and potentially unhealthy to live in.
Experts have blamed the UK Government’s “stop-start” approach to energy efficiency schemes, housing retrofit schemes that have been encumbered with frequent policy changes over recent years. This has caused considerable instability in the industry, a loss of reputations and a serious knock to confidence in these schemes.
A major issue is there’s a notable shortage of skilled labour leading to long delays in installations, completions and inferior works which have highlighted a glaring need for better training of installers.
The Great British Insulation Scheme advertised on the Government website recognises that:
“There are quality issues with some solid wall insulation fitted through the Great British Insulation Scheme.” There is also a link to another Government website advising “…what to do if you've had poor quality insulation work fitted through a government scheme.
Reported by WalesOnline, in September 2012 people living in Caerau, Bridgend, and other areas in Wales signed up to an energy efficiency scheme run by both the UK and Welsh Governments. This scheme involved installing both internal and external wall insulation following which many of the participant houses suffered from damp and mould. The remediation works necessary to solve the problem have cost the residents many thousands of pounds, and in the meantime, huge levels of stress.
Arbed am Byth is the Welsh Government's Warm Homes Programme which is aimed at improving the energy efficiency of homes across Wales where households are more likely to be living in severe fuel poverty.
The scheme identifies requirements and installs energy efficiency measures including wall insulation in properties and the Welsh Government appointed Arbed am Byth to deliver the scheme.
An evaluation of the scheme by Miller Research was commissioned by the Welsh Government to evaluate the programme, to assess its management, delivery, and impact.
Reports: There are several reports available on the Arbed scheme, including "Miller Research Consulting Evaluation of Arbed 3: Final Evaluation Report" and the "New Warm Homes Programme: integrated assessment”, March 2024. gov.wales
The Welsh scheme was started in 2009 and ran in several phases. In 2012-2013, many of the residents in Caerau, Bridgend applied to take part in the national energy efficiency programme which aimed to provide better internal and external wall insulation.
Soon after the work was completed some homes began to experience damp and mould issues to internal walls. It was subsequently found that external wall insulation installed under the scheme had failed in 104 of the owner-occupied homes in Caerau. Unfortunately for the homeowners the original contractors appointed had ceased trading which meant that no guarantees were available.
Later a petition was raised calling for compensation for those affected. Plaid Cymru Senedd member Luke Fletcher, said:
"This issue has been one of the biggest scandals of devolution, and I don't say that lightly. It's been ongoing now for about 13 or 14 years, where residents have been living in houses that aren't fit for human habitation."
Although the Welsh Government has started funding remediation works to the faulty insulation, Mr Fletcher said,
"Residents are increasingly anxious about how long it is taking to put these things right.”
Other government energy schemes such as the ECO4 and the Great British Insulation Schemes have also faced issues with faulty solid wall insulation installations resulting in dampness, mould and other problems that have prompted further investigations and necessary government action.
UK Energy Company Obligation (ECO) and the Great British Insulation Scheme (GBIS) were found to be responsible for some issues with solid wall insulation as a result of poor-quality installations.
Damp and mould have been linked to negative impacts on health, including respiratory problems and skin conditions, leading to incidents such as the death of young Awaab Ishak, a tragedy that shocked the whole rented housing sector resulting in the introduction of Awaab’s Law in July 2023. Part of the Social Housing (Regulation) Act following a petition by Awaab Ishak’s parents, the Manchester Evening News and Shelter the law is soon to be extended to the private rented sector under the pending Renters’ Rights Act.
The government has acknowledged there are issues with the schemes and some installations of wall insulation systems, and it is urgently conducting investigations and audits to address these problems.
Trustmark is an independent body that oversees tradespeople working in homes and has conducted audits into the installations. It says it has found significant examples of solid wall insulation under the schemes that did not meet the required standards.
Following the findings Trustmark has suspended several installer members responsible for the poor installations.
The UK Government has said it is committed to protecting consumers and improving the overall consumer journey for home retrofit work.
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