If your home has spray foam and you feel misled, you're far from alone. An estimated 250,000 UK homes have it (RPSA, 2021), much of it fitted in good faith during the energy-efficiency drive. Here's the story of how it got into so many lofts, and why it turned into a mortgage problem.
Key takeaways
- An estimated 250,000 UK homes have spray foam insulation (RPSA, 2021), much of it installed during government-backed energy-efficiency schemes.
- It was sold hard as an energy upgrade, often to homeowners who had no reason to doubt it.
- The mortgage problem emerged later, as lenders and surveyors recognised that foam blocks roof inspection and can trap damp.
The spray foam boom
Spray foam insulation was marketed heavily across the UK as a modern, high-performance way to cut energy bills. A lot of it went in during the push to make homes more energy-efficient, including through government-backed grant schemes, and much of it was sold door-to-door or through energy-improvement offers.
For most homeowners it seemed like a sensible upgrade: better insulation, lower bills, backed by an official-looking installation certificate. There was little reason to suspect a future problem.
How many homes are affected
The scale is significant. The RPSA has estimated that up to 250,000 UK homes could be affected by spray foam (RPSA, 2021). That's a lot of owners who did the responsible thing on energy efficiency, only to find it counts against them when they come to sell or remortgage.
Why it became a mortgage problem
The turn came as lenders and surveyors got to grips with what spray foam does to a roof. Bonded to the rafters, it hides the timbers from inspection, and open-cell foam can trap moisture. In 2023, RICS published guidance to help surveyors assess it, which pushed it up every lender's checklist, and caution spread across the market. Our guide to spray foam and mortgages explains where that landed.
Where that leaves homeowners now
If you're one of the affected owners, the frustration is understandable, but the path forward is clear. Professional removal to lender standard, with the right documentation, undoes the problem and puts your property back on a normal footing. See is spray foam insulation bad for an honest weigh-up of your position.
Put it behind you
You didn't create this problem, but removal is the way to put it behind you. Check your eligibility in 60 seconds using the button below for a free survey, and eligible properties can save up to 20% on removal.
