Information & Resources

Who Is This For?

This page brings together background information, briefings and practical resources for homeowners, journalists, policymakers and professionals seeking to understand the impact of failed retrofit insulation and the need for proper repair.

Campaigners outside Parliament calling for repair and accountability.

Background Briefings

Context and evidence on how government-backed retrofit insulation schemes have caused widespread harm to homes and residents across the UK.

Download: Overview: UK Retrofit Insulation Failures (PDF)

Parliamentary Scrutiny and Official Evidence

Written evidence to the Public Accounts Committee (November 2025)

Evidence has been submitted to the House of Commons Public Accounts Committee concerning the impact of failed cavity wall insulation installed under Government-endorsed energy efficiency schemes.

The submission draws on lived experience and sets out risks to households, public money and public trust arising from systemic failures in retrofit delivery and oversight.

https://committees.parliament.uk/writtenevidence/151395/html/

FAQs for Journalists & Policymakers

Clear answers to common questions about failed retrofit insulation, who is affected, and what needs to happen next.


Selected questions and answers are shown below.

Download: Frequently Asked Questions – Failed Retrofit Insulation (PDF)

(This document contains more detailed background and evidence)

What is Retrofit Right calling for?

Retrofit Right is calling for a funded national programme to properly remediate homes damaged by failed retrofit insulation, fair compensation for affected households, and meaningful reform of retrofit standards and oversight.

How many households are affected?

Evidence from campaigners, local authorities, journalists, and affected residents indicates that many thousands of households across the UK have experienced damage linked to failed cavity wall insulation installed under government-backed schemes. The full scale has never been comprehensively assessed.

Which schemes are involved?

Failures have occurred under multiple government-backed energy efficiency schemes, including ECO and earlier retrofit programmes. Retrofit Right focuses on outcomes for households rather than rebranding or replacing schemes without addressing past harm.

Why has this not been resolved already?

Affected households often face overlapping barriers, including:

· Installers no longer trading

· Complex or slow scheme processes

· Inconsistent or inadequate assessments

· Prolonged waiting periods

In many cases, residents have been advised to delay repairs while pursuing redress, leaving them living with worsening conditions for years.

Why is government intervention necessary?

These insulation measures were:

· Backed by government policy

· Promoted as safe and professionally regulated

· Often required homeowners to use approved contractors

Where a policy-driven programme causes harm at scale, government has a responsibility to ensure households are not left with unsafe or damaged homes.

Is Retrofit Right opposed to energy efficiency or net zero?

No. Retrofit Right supports energy efficiency and climate goals. However, net zero cannot be achieved by damaging homes, undermining public trust, or ignoring harm caused to households.

Repair and accountability must come first.

What does good remediation look like?

Good remediation involves:

· Independent, building-appropriate assessment

· Full repair of consequential damage, not patch fixes

· Safe removal or correction of failed measures where required

· Homes being returned to a safe, dry, and mortgageable condition

What should happen next?

Retrofit Right is calling on government to:

· Acknowledge the scale of the problem

· Engage directly with affected residents

· Fund proper remediation

· Reform retrofit standards, oversight, and consumer protection

These steps are essential to restore trust and prevent repeat harm.

Has there been national scrutiny of Government-backed retrofit schemes?

Yes.

In January 2026, the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) published a report highly critical of aspects of the £4.6bn Government retrofit schemes, including the Energy Company Obligation and the Great British Insulation Scheme.

The Committee stated that elements of the programme had “failed at every level” and raised concerns about defective installations affecting tens of thousands of homes. It also questioned whether current remediation and oversight arrangements are adequate and called for further investigation into potential fraud.

The PAC highlighted the need for faster identification and repair of affected properties and expressed concern that some households may face repair costs exceeding guarantee limits.

This national scrutiny reinforces the urgency of establishing a clear, properly funded and nationally coordinated remediation pathway so that affected households are not left living in unsafe homes.

(Source: The Telegraph, 23 January 2026, reporting on the Public Accounts Committee findings)

These findings underline the importance of our call to Repair Homes as a Priority and to establish a transparent, nationally coordinated remediation pathway for all affected households.

FAQs for Homeowners

Clear answers to common questions about failed retrofit insulation, who is affected, and what needs to happen next.

Answers to the most common questions are provided below.

Download: Frequently Asked Questions – Failed Retrofit Insulation (PDF)

What is this campaign about?

Retrofit Right represents homeowners and residents whose homes have been damaged by failed or poorly installed government-backed retrofit insulation.

We are calling for proper repair of damaged homes, accountability for what went wrong, and fair treatment for affected households.

What do you mean by “failed retrofit insulation”?

Retrofit insulation is considered to have failed when it causes or contributes to problems such as:

· Damp, mould, or condensation

· Cracking or deterioration of walls or render

· Damage to timbers or internal finishes

· Poor indoor air quality or health impacts

· Homes becoming colder rather than warmer

· Loss of property value or difficulty selling or remortgaging

These issues often arise from insulation being installed where it was unsuitable, poorly designed, or inadequately assessed.

Which types of insulation are affected?

Problems have been widely reported with:

· Cavity Wall Insulation (CWI)

· External Wall Insulation (EWI)

· Internal Wall Insulation (IWI)

The issue is not insulation itself, but insulation installed without proper assessment, design, or long-term performance consideration.

How widespread is the problem?

Many thousands of homes across the UK are believed to be affected.

The full scale has never been comprehensively assessed, and damage can take years to become visible, meaning the true numbers are likely higher.

Why can’t homeowners rely on warranties or guarantees?

In practice, many warranties and guarantees:

· Have low financial limits

· Exclude removal of insulation

· Do not cover full remediation of damage

This often leaves homeowners without a realistic route to properly fix their homes.

What problems are homeowners facing now?

Many affected residents are living with:

· Homes that are damp, mouldy, or unhealthy

· Repair costs running into tens of thousands of pounds

· Long delays and confusing processes

· Being passed between installers, assessors, and schemes without resolution

For some, the stress and health impacts have been severe.

What is remediation?

Remediation means:

· Independent investigation by qualified building and moisture experts

· Safe removal or correction of failed insulation where necessary

· Repair of consequential damage, including walls, timbers, finishes, and ventilation

· Restoring homes to a condition that is safe, dry, and mortgageable

It does not mean cosmetic fixes, temporary measures, or blaming occupants.

What if I’m not sure insulation is the cause of my problems?

Many issues emerge gradually and are often misdiagnosed.

If your home:

· Developed damp or mould after insulation was installed

· Became harder to heat or ventilate

· Shows new cracking or deterioration

You may still be affected. Independent advice can help establish what has gone wrong.

Is this campaign anti-insulation or anti-net zero?

No. We support energy efficiency and climate goals. However, damaging homes undermines trust, increases long-term costs, and harms people.

Repair and accountability must come first so future retrofit is done safely and properly.

How can I help or get involved?

You can:

· Join the campaign

· Share your experience

· Contact your MP or local authority

· Help raise awareness of the issue

You do not need to be directly affected to support the campaign.

Practical Resources

If your home has been affected by cavity wall insulation issues

If you are experiencing damp, mould or structural concerns following cavity wall insulation, you may wish to provide your MP with clear and structured information about your situation.

We have created a CWI Property Case Template to help you do this.

This template enables you to:

· Summarise the condition of your property

· Explain the impact on your household

· Outline steps you have already taken

· Highlight any guarantee or remediation barriers

It is designed to support constructive engagement and informed discussion.

How to use the template

Step 1 – Download the CWI Property Case Template
Step 2 – Complete it with as much detail as you feel comfortable providing
Step 3 – Send it directly to your own MP together with any supporting evidence

You may wish to include photographs, reports or remedial quotes.

Download the CWI Property Case Template

Find Your MP

Other Groups & Campaigns

While Retrofit Right focuses on cavity wall insulation failures, we recognise that other retrofit measures can also cause harm. People affected by other measures are encouraged to seek specialist advice or support from relevant organisations.

The following groups and organisations may be helpful to homeowners and others seeking further information.

Inclusion here does not imply endorsement or partnership.

SSB Law Victims Support Group (cavity wall insulation claims)

Represents households pursuing justice after harm caused by failed cavity wall insulation.

With Support From

Retrofit Right is supported by Breakthrough Impact in its campaign and advocacy work.