Had faulty wall insulation fitted under an official scheme? More of the repair costs will be covered – with sector-wide reforms proposed

Solid walls (without gaps or cavities) are most common in properties built before the 1920s. Insulating them involves adding a layer of material to the inside or outside to trap heat and reduce the need to use your heating as often.

A January 2025 report by Trustmark, an independent body which oversees tradespeople working in homes, found "significant examples" of solid wall insulation installed under two major Government schemes that "did not meet the required standard".

Later that year, the Government confirmed that evidence it had seen pointed to a "systemic failure" with the schemes, affecting up to 60,000 households. It promised that poor installations would be "identified and remediated as quickly as possible, with no cost to the consumer".

Repair costs up to £25,000 will now be covered

Those who've had faulty solid wall insulation installed under the 'Energy Company Obligation 4 (ECO4)' and 'Great British Insulation Scheme (GBIS)' will now be covered for repair costs up to £25,000 – up from the previous limit of £20,000.

These initiatives, intended to keep your home warm and lower your bills, were launched by the last Government in April 2022 and May 2023 respectively, and continued under the current Government. They enable eligible households to apply for free energy-efficiency upgrades, including solid wall insulation, through their energy supplier or local council.

Martin McCluskey, Minister for Energy Consumers, said on 17 June 2026: "I have been clear that the families who have suffered from these poor installations should not be the ones to pick up the bill. It is the industry's responsibility to put this right and help affected families."

You should schedule an inspection if you are contacted by an official auditor

If you've been affected, you should have received a letter from energy regulator Ofgem earlier this year. The letter will have included your 'Unique Measure Reference Number'.

TrustMark should then contact you separately – by email, phone or post – to arrange a free inspection (audit) of your insulation. This is so it can work out whether repairs are needed.

Important: When you hear from TrustMark, ask it to provide your unique number – the Government says "only legitimate parties" will have access to it. If someone contacts you about faulty work but cannot provide the number, don't share any personal details with them or let them into your home. If in doubt, you can call TrustMark directly on 0333 555 1234 (select option 1).

Stronger consumer protections planned

A consultation into consumer protection for home upgrades has also launched, with the Government looking to "ensure installations are done right the first time" and to make sure consumers "have clear routes to remediation and redress when things go wrong".

Going forward, the Government has said it will consider improvements, such as a public register of installers and retrofitters, better oversight of service quality and consumer experiences, plus a centralised database to track risks, audits and performance across the industry.

The changes, expected to take effect "from 2028", will mostly apply to Government-backed schemes, but some will also be set up to support the wider market.