Poor quality solid wall insulation

Good news for Luton residents affected by rogue external wall insulation traders, as the Government has announced action to protect homes which have had poor quality Solid Wall Insulation.

Goverment action

The Government has taken immediate action after checks found widespread cases of poor-quality solid wall insulation installed under inherited ECO4 and GBIS grant schemes.

Routine checks by the Government have identified widespread cases of poor-quality solid wall insulation installed under inherited Energy Company Obligation 4 and Great British Insulation Scheme.

As a result of this, the Government has taken immediate action to protect consumers, with 39 businesses immediately suspended from installing new solid wall insulation. Installers responsible for this substandard work will be forced to fix it, and households should not be asked to pay.

Poor-quality installation is the result of years of a failed Government grant programme and Ministers are committed to introducing new reforms to drive-up quality and protect consumers through the Warm Homes Plan.

Coverage by the BBC last year, which highlighted these issues in some affected homes in Luton, showed the damage poor quality solid wall insulation can have if not installed correctly. The Government, along with partner organisations, are now taking urgent action to ensure these issues are rectified.

Luton Council has led the call for further investigations since 2023 when issues were first reported to the council. Teams from Housing, Building Control and Trading Standards have been advocating for higher levels of inspection. They have also called for further investigation into residents’ complaints by the relevant bodies managing the ECO4 and GBIS grant schemes.

What to do next

If you are affected by these issues, the Government and department for Energy Security and Net Zero have published further guidance on what to do next.

Luton Council advises residents to contact TrustMark if they have had poor quality solid wall insulation installed on their property, done by any of the companies currently suspended or by another installer.

Residents are advised to check they have received the guarantees and warranties from the installer company.If these haven’t been received, we advise contacting TrustMark Tel: 0333 555 1234 or visit the TrustMark website.