' that left houses mouldy needs wider investigation, government told

Botched Insulation Schemes: A Systemic Failure

Homeowners affected by poorly executed government-backed insulation programs, which have led to severe damp and mould, are urgently demanding that the scope of the inquiry into the issue be expanded to include all past work.

The Scale of the Problem

• Vast Investment: Billions of pounds of public money were invested in these programs, which provided free insulation (external or solid wall) to over 280,000 homes in the UK between 2013 and 2025.

• High Failure Rate: The government itself reported that 92% of external wall insulation installed under these schemes over the past three years had at least one major issue.

• Restricted Review: The government's current stance is that serious problems are limited to jobs completed since 2022. However, affected homeowners and MPs argue that evidence points to systemic, long-running issues that predate this period.

Calls for an Expanded Inquiry

Labour MP Imran Hussain and affected residents are calling for the probe to be extended to cover all insulation installed under these schemes, dating back to their inception.

• MP's Argument: Mr. Hussain states that families who tried to "do the right thing to make their homes warmer and greener" have been left "paying the price for loss and negligence."

• Evidence of Long-Term Issues: The BBC was told that serious problems were known to the then-Conservative government as far back as a decade ago. Energy expert Andrej Miller highlighted the 2013 Fishwick project in Preston as "the ultimate scheme gone wrong," with problems known to civil servants for years.

   

📍 Case Study: The Fishwick Project (2013)

The Fishwick scheme highlights a decade-long failure in project planning, execution, and government response.

• The Intent vs. The Result: 350 Victorian homes in Fishwick were fitted with external wall insulation, paid for by the "green levy" on energy bills and intended to save carbon and help low-income households. Instead, poor design and workmanship trapped rainwater behind the insulation, causing it to penetrate the walls.

• Homeowner Impact: Residents like Bushra Rashid (72) suffer from damp and crumbling plaster, making her bedroom unusable and raising concerns about her health. Tasneem Hussain has had to redecorate her damp house over 20 times and worries about the health of her disabled son.

   

• Early Warnings Ignored: The installer went bust soon after completion. Preston City Council's energy officer, Andrea Howe, reported "horrifying" tales of poor workmanship, mushrooms growing on walls, and "water features" from light fittings. She reported her fears and showed photographic evidence to the Department of Energy and Climate Change officials as early as 2015.

   

• Concealed Study: A government-commissioned study published in 2019 found failure on all 350 homes due to poor planning, inspection, ventilation, and workmanship, noting some homes were unsuitable for insulation. Crucially, the government never released this study or shared it with Fishwick residents.

• Costly Rectification: Only a fraction of the necessary repairs have been carried out, costing £70,000 per house on average. The charity National Energy Action (NEA) estimates the full cost to address the area's needs is up to £22 million.

🛑 Ongoing Failures and Lack of Accountability

The problems are not confined to the past, as similar issues are emerging in more recent schemes, and the government lacks a clear picture of the failure rate.

• Recent Schemes Affected: The BBC reported on problems in a County Durham scheme (2021), where resident Jean Liddle (82) was told by a government-commissioned survey that the issues posed an "immediate risk to the building's fabric and health of the occupant."

• Information Withheld: The survey highlighting the immediate danger to Ms. Liddle's health was not disclosed to her by the council; she only found out through a Freedom of Information request.

   

• Lack of Oversight: The National Audit Office noted that the government "does not have a clear picture of failure rates in previous programs" and does not know how many steps were audited for quality control.

• Systemic Flaw: Andrej Miller argues the issues highlight a "systemic flaw in how government functions," as ministers and officials have not remained in post long enough to find lasting solutions.

   

The Department of Energy Security and Net Zero acknowledged that residents have been "let down by poor workmanship," and claims it is introducing comprehensive reforms to ensure accountability and quick resolutions in the future.

However, as Atif Atif, the son of a deceased Fishwick resident, powerfully stated, "I believe people must be held accountable... Responsibility must have a place, and it shouldn't have to be the homeowners."