David and Margaret Hay, from near Darvel, East Ayrshire, have been told their £250,000 house is “unsellable” due to spray foam loft insulation. The couple only realized the problem after they decided to move and tried to buy a new house last year, but the deal fell through at the 11th hour when they were informed it would be pointless to put their own property on the market.
Widespread Problem Affecting Thousands
They are among an estimated 250,000 people across the UK thought to have spray foam insulation. Until recently, such insulation was touted by governments as an effective way to boost home energy efficiency. However, dodgy installations causing damp and timber rot have created a mounting consumer crisis, with homeowners unable to sell or remortgage.
David said “breathable open cell” spray foam insulation was installed as part of the architect’s design when the house was built in 2016, with everything done “by the book.” The 68-year-old former HGV driver told the Sunday Mail: “There have been a lot of cowboys selling spray foam insulation to people, and because that’s happened there has been almost a blanket ban on finance from banks and building societies. We’ve been caught up in all of that. It has come as a huge shock. We worked hard all our lives right up to the last minute, it was a big effort getting to this point. So this situation has been gutting.”
Financial and Personal Impact
The Hays bought the three-bedroom house for £205,000 in 2018, mostly with their own savings. They took out a £60,000 mortgage with Bank of Scotland and have already paid the loan off. Based on comparable property prices in their area today, without the insulation problem their house could be worth north of £250,000. But now the couple are left with a property they cannot sell. They could spend up to £700 on a specialist surveyor to check the insulation, but with no guarantee this would satisfy mortgage lenders.
Former NHS worker Mary, 74, said: “We’re stuck between the devil and deep blue sea. I wanted to move a bit closer to amenities. I’ve got terrible arthritis so going up and down stairs is difficult. We wanted to move to a bungalow which would have been ideal for me. When we were told it didn’t look like we could sell, it absolutely kicked the teeth out of me. For four or five months, it just floored me. I couldn’t come to terms with it.”
Limited Options and Exploitation Risks
Another option for the couple could be paying thousands to have the spray foam removed, but that could damage the property’s Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) or even invalidate its planning permission. Experts have warned the crisis has sparked a wave of unscrupulous traders offering spray foam removal at extortionate rates to homeowners, many of whom are elderly and vulnerable.
David and Margaret have met with Kilmarnock and Loudoun MP Lillian Jones to discuss their plight and want government action to allow people in their position to sell their homes.
