Which? has responded to a Government consultation on home energy improvements, saying that consumer protections must be strengthened after what it describes as the damage done by earlier insulation schemes. The consumer body published its response on 17 June 20261.
Sue Davies, Which? Head of Consumer Protection Policy, set out the organisation's position1:
"Stronger consumer protections are urgently needed to restore trust after the horrendous impact of some past insulation schemes and to support the UK's switch to low carbon heating."
Which? said its research shows many homeowners are interested in solar panels and heat pumps, but that they need clear advice and strong protections to trust technology that is often costly and unfamiliar1. The organisation said the Government must ensure consumers have the confidence to make home energy improvements, which it said means ensuring installers are qualified and reliable and that problems can be put right quickly and without additional cost1.
The response does not name specific schemes, set out proposed redress mechanisms, or give figures for the number of households affected. The consultation itself, its closing date and any Government response are not described in the published statement1.
Why it matters for households
Insulation, glazing and low carbon heating are the measures that most directly affect a home's energy independence: how much heat it loses, how much it must buy, and how exposed it is to price movements. The practical risk for households is not only the cost of the work but what happens when it is done badly. Poorly installed insulation has been linked to damp, mould and reduced performance, and remedial work can be difficult to pursue once a scheme has closed or an installer has stopped trading. Which? is arguing that the protections around the work matter as much as the technology itself1.
For households considering measures now, the questions raised in the response concern who is allowed to carry out the work, what qualification or certification backs them, and what route exists if the result is faulty. The organisation's call for redress "without any additional cost" points to the gap between a guarantee and a household having to pay again to fix a failed installation1. The insulation and energy independence guide sets out how fabric measures relate to a home's overall energy position, and the insulation scams and cold calling page covers mis-selling and doorstep approaches. Households checking an installer's credentials can find the certification routes explained in competent person schemes, with the wider framework of codes and schemes in installer schemes and consumer codes. Where work has already been carried out and problems have appeared, damp after insulation and condensation, damp and mould after insulation deal with the symptoms households most often report.
What happens next
No next steps are set out in the published response. The Government's timetable for the consultation, and whether it will change the rules on installer qualification or redress, have not been reported1.