Botched insulation scandal: Look out for your letter

Landlords who have fallen victim to botched insulation work are being told to look out for letters informing them of plans to repair the damage.

The news comes after a damning report from the National Audit Office revealed tens of thousands of homes need repairs to correct failed installations likely to cause dangerous damp and mould, funded by the Government’s ECO and Great British Insulation Scheme (GBIS).  

According to the report almost all external wall insulation and a third of internal wall insulation fitted under Government-funded schemes will need replacing.

Slow progress

Back in January it was revealed that 39 businesses had been immediately suspended from installing new solid wall insulation in homes after work failed routine checks, with the Government confirming installers responsible for the substandard work will be forced to fix it free of charge.

Yet, despite the scale of the problem, progress has been slow. As of mid-September 2025, only around 2,900 homes had been fully remediated. 

The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) has not yet confirmed a full timetable for inspecting and repairing all affected properties, but Martin McCluskey MP, Minister for Energy Consumers, said that the Government remains “committed to helping households who have not received the standard of service they deserve.” 

Am I affected?

You may be affected if: 

• You had work funded by ECO4 or GBIS between April 2022 and January 2025, and 
• Your installation is considered potentially below standard. 

What do I need to do?

Regulator Ofgem, has a Unique Measure Reference number for each funded installation, and will be contacting all affected households directly by letter, offering a free audit to assess the quality of the work. 

You should be aware that, as this letter will be sent to the property in question – where the work was done – it is vital you let your tenants know to expect it, and to notify you as soon as it arrives.

The Government is urging everyone that receive an audit invitation to allow access to qualified professionals so that issues can be identified and fixed. 

My installer is no longer operating – what do I do?

Even if the original installer has ceased operating, all work carried out under ECO4 and GBIS should be covered by guarantees, and you can contact your guarantee provider directly for further assistance. 

The bigger picture

With more than 30,000 households believed to be affected by the insulation scandal, we have raised concerns about ongoing Government plans to introduce new minimum energy efficiency standards (MEES) in rented homes.

The proposals would require all homes in the private rented sector to have a minimum EPC rating of C to be legally let out – with a 2028 deadline for new tenancies and 2030 for existing ones.

With up to 2.5million homes needing work we believe the proposed deadlines are completely unrealistic and are asking ministers to go back to the drawing board to come up with fair and workable proposals to protect the supply of homes to rent at a time of ever-increasing demand.

Need more help? 

If you are worried about work carried out under ECO4 or GBIS, support is available: 

Email: [email protected] or fill in the webform available on the Ofgem pages at GOV.UK 

You can also call freephone: 0808 169 4447 Monday–Friday (excluding bank holidays) from 9:30am - 4:30pm