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Tony and Becs Wadley find themselves unable to spend Christmas at their own home due to black mould that developed following insulation work done under a government-supported scheme. The issue has forced their asthmatic son, Elliott, to avoid the house altogether. “It’s awful. Elliott can’t come into our house, it’s as if he’s been ostracised from his own home,” Mr Wadley explained, highlighting the emotional strain the family is enduring.
The Wadleys are one of over 300 households that have recently reported problems linked to faulty insulation installations. Their home on the Gower Peninsula received a government grant aimed at improving energy efficiency and providing warmer living conditions to help Elliott’s asthma. The grant covered insulating his bedroom walls, but months after installation, black mould was found behind the insulation boards. Attempts to fix the problem involved removing the initial insulation and plaster and installing a new system, which also failed, forcing removal once more. Elliott, now 19, has avoided entering the house since April, spending university breaks with his grandmother instead. Becs Wadley sorrowfully said, “I miss him like you wouldn’t believe.” This Christmas, the family plans to gather at Mr Wadley’s sister’s home to be together.
The government scheme responsible for the Wadleys’ insulation is known as ECO4. A recent report by the National Audit Office found that nearly 30% of internal wall insulation installations under ECO4 required repairs due to poor quality, citing weak government oversight and regulatory failures. Energy Consumer Minister Martin McCluskey responded to the findings by saying: “We are fixing the broken system by introducing comprehensive reforms to make this process clear and straightforward, and in the rare cases where things go wrong, there will be clear lines of accountability, so consumers are guaranteed to get any problems fixed quickly.”
Inside the Wadleys’ home, conditions remain hazardous, with exposed wiring and persistent black mould after the insulation was removed from several rooms. The installer, Stellar Energy, denied that there were any immediate safety hazards and asserted that their work complied with technical standards for stone houses under the ECO4 scheme. However, building surveyor David Walter criticized the installation, stating the installer “didn’t understand what they were doing and what they were doing to the building which is why we’ve got these problems.” Mr Wadley expressed frustration, “You wouldn’t put your family through this. Nobody would. Somebody needs to take responsibility.” Stellar Energy has apologized for the distress caused and emphasized its commitment to resolving the situation.
Another family affected by faulty insulation is the Proudmans from Bristol. Scott Proudman reached out to highlight troubles with external wall insulation installed in 2021 under a government grant granted because of his daughter’s disabilities. His daughter, born prematurely, faces multiple health challenges, including cerebral palsy and autism. Scott lamented, “I feel like a failure every time I come home because this was meant to be something to look after my family, to make life easier, and it hasn’t.” The external render protecting the insulation has been deteriorating for years, leading to concerns about water ingress and internal dampness. Building surveyor David Walter warned that rainwater was likely seeping behind the insulation, which could worsen conditions inside the house, calling it a “timebomb” that will worsen without costly repairs. Unfortunately, the company responsible is now in liquidation, and the Proudmans face tens of thousands of pounds in repair costs without a valid guarantee. The regulator, TrustMark, confirmed it was unable to assist because the installer lost accreditation shortly after completing the work.
Brett Langdon, a director at SPMS Wales, expressed regret over the Proudmans’ predicament, stating all work was completed to manufacturer specifications but was unable to clarify details of the original guarantee. TrustMark issued a statement expressing sympathy for both the Wadley and Proudman families, describing their situations as “totally unacceptable.” The organization said it was actively engaging with relevant parties to find resolutions and emphasized the urgent need for systemic reform in the current insulation installation procedures
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