MPs call for Serious Fraud Office investigation into botched insulation schemes

On 21 January, the UK government announced its Warm Homes Plan. But now MPs are calling for the Serious Fraud Office to investigate the failures of past insulation retrofitting schemes.

MPs have previously reported on the shocking failures of earlier schemes. Tory inaction and incompetence on the issue meant that by 2025 there were “98% fewer energy efficiency measures” in place than if the trajectory from 2010 had continued.

This is despite such measures potentially giving a £15 return for every £1 they cost. Indeed the MPs found that energy efficiency schemes could deliver £40bn of economic benefits in five years. And the NHS could save £2bn over the same period due to reductions in cold-related mental and physical illnesses.

Campaign group Fuel Poverty Action is calling on people to join it in demanding justice for bad insulation retrofit victims:

The standard of so-called improvements to homes in the UK is equal to vandalism, it’s criminal. Over 30,000 homes have been damaged with 1 in 10 households placed in immediate health and safety danger.

Botched insulation scheme

£4bn in money from our energy bills has flowed via energy firms to cowboy contractors. Now, the firms and contractors are lobbying this government to pay them the last half billion pounds available for these schemes.

Energy ministers Ed Miliband and Martin McCluskey have to give this money to victims whose lives have been destroyed by mistakes under the government schemes. They must fix the damaged homes and deliver investment in skills, training and independent inspections of retrofit work to ensure history doesn’t repeat itself.

Send a letter to them today demanding insulation retrofits that work for residents, guaranteed bills savings and warm, healthy homes for all.

Fuel Poverty Action is supporting victims to campaign for justice. Over 300 victims are organising together demanding a public enquiry. If you’ve been a victim contact Fuel Poverty Action.

Katie, Fuel Poverty Action member, said:

I thought retrofitting my home was the right thing to do – for my bills and for the climate – but it turned into my biggest nightmare.

The contractors were profiteering cowboys and caused havoc to my home leaving me with damage, no heating and no internet. And the regulators have been worse than useless, tying me up in knots for almost two years and taking no responsibility.

This was work done under a Government scheme but Ministers are refusing to guarantee that our homes will be fixed and our lives can move on. We need to fight this for every victim out there.

Duncan, Fuel Poverty Action member and founder of Nature Society, said:

I’ve met countless people put through unimaginable horrors at the hands of ill-planned and badly botched, government schemes, which fail in their most basic duties of care.

At my own home, solar panel installation led to the premature structural failure of my roof, and an undesigned and unsuitable heating system has left me without heating for 3 solid years. After 18 months of TrustMark complaint, the systemic injustice has been every bit as great as the failed install.

It’s exhausting, but if we don’t shout from the hilltops, history will continue to repeat itself and thousands will be worse off from a scheme designed to alleviate – not cause – fuel poverty.

Featured image supplied