Homeowners are being targeted by rogue traders offering costly removal of spray foam insulation.
A national trade body has issued a warning to residents in Worcestershire about scammers posing as experts and charging thousands of pounds for poor-quality removal work, often using fabricated claims and fake credentials.
The Property Care Association (PCA) said that some fraudsters have gone as far as presenting fake identification using the PCA logo and claiming access to a “national database” of properties at risk of losing value unless insulation is removed.
Sarah Garry, chief executive of the PCA, said: “Spray foam installations and inability to access mortgages remain one of the top reasons for which constituents contact their local MPs.
“In the UK around 250,000 homes have spray foam insulation and many of those householders are now struggling to sell or release equity, as well as being targeted by cold callers pushing them to remove it, or legal firms pursuing cases of misselling.
“Some of our surveyors have even found that fraudsters have impersonated them, going so far as to issue fake reports in their name.”
Sarah Garry, PCA Chief Executive (Image: Property Care Association)
Spray foam insulation, if improperly installed, can trap moisture and cause mould, damp, and timber decay.
However, removal is often complex and expensive.
The PCA and the HomeOwners Alliance are calling for a standard process that will allow homes with retrofitted spray foam to be sold more easily.
Paula Higgins, chief executive of the HomeOwners Alliance, said: “We continue to receive reports of vulnerable householders being targeted by cold callers, offering to remove spray foam insulation.”
The PCA has developed a Sprayed Foam Inspection Protocol and a register of trained and audited surveyors to give homeowners confidence in the advice they receive.
A roundtable discussion on the issue, hosted by Martin McCluskey MP and attended by Sarah Garry earlier this month, resulted in agreement on the need for better public awareness, a list of competent organisations, and specialist reviews prior to insulation installation.
The PCA has also co-produced a consumer guide on spray foam insulation.
Residents concerned about potential scams can check the PCA’s register or call the PCA directly on 01480 400000.