The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero published a policy paper, Spray foam insulation: Remediation, removal and lending, on 22 October 20261. It sets out what households with spray foam in roofs, lofts or attics can do when selling or remortgaging, and names eight lenders it says are open to lending on such properties2.
The paper states that many mortgage providers will lend on homes with spray foam, subject to their own requirements, and lists Nationwide, Lloyds, Santander, Barclays, NatWest, Coventry Building Society, The Co-operative Bank and HSBC2. It adds that lenders can be added to the list at any time2. On removal, the guidance is qualified: only specialist surveyors experienced in spray foam application can say whether the foam should be removed, and removing it will not always guarantee that a lender will still lend, while improper removal could lead to further issues2. It points to the Property Care Association's find a specialist tool and the Spray Foam Insulation Inspection Protocol of March 20232.
"The government is working with lenders to make sure homeowners who have spray foam in their property can access finance options."
For installations under government schemes since 2020, which must be fitted by TrustMark-registered installers, the paper sets out routes to redress2. Where an issue is found, the work was completed less than six years ago and the installer is still trading, households can use the TrustMark dispute resolution process, and can contact the Dispute Resolution Ombudsman if that does not resolve matters2. Insurance-backed guarantees typically last up to 10 years, and TrustMark can identify the provider where paperwork is missing2. For work installed before the 2020 TrustMark requirement, the guidance says to check whether the original installer is still trading and to look for an insurance-backed guarantee or a scheme, certification body or quality mark2.
The paper also warns that growth in the spray foam removals sector has led to more cold calls and unsolicited offers to sell or remove it, which can be reported to trading standards, and that complaints about details passed to removal companies can go to the Information Commissioner's Office2. It cites joint Spray Foam Customer Guidance from the Property Care Association, Insulation Manufacturers Association, Residential Property Surveyors Association, RPC Legal and Andy Wilson Financial Services, and material from the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors2.
| Item | Detail given in the guidance |
|---|---|
| Lenders named as open to lending | Nationwide, Lloyds, Santander, Barclays, NatWest, Coventry Building Society, The Co-operative Bank, HSBC2 |
| Scheme installations since 2020 | Must be by TrustMark-registered installers2 |
| Dispute route | TrustMark process, then Dispute Resolution Ombudsman2 |
| Typical guarantee length | Up to 10 years2 |
Why it matters for households
Spray foam is a liquid insulation that expands and sets to form a firmer layer, used to insulate roofs, lofts and attics2. Where it is fitted correctly it can improve the thermal performance of a roof, which bears on a home's energy independence, as set out in our guide to insulation and energy independence. The difficulty has been at the point of sale or remortgage, where lenders' individual requirements can affect whether a property can be financed. The published list gives households and their advisers a named starting point, though the paper makes clear each lender applies its own conditions and that removal is not a guaranteed route to a loan2. The redress routes matter where a scheme installation proves faulty, a subject covered in our guide to ECO4 and GBIS insulation failures. Our spray foam insulation guide covers risks, mortgages and removal in more detail, and the energy regulation and policy guide sets out the wider framework.
What happens next
No further dates are given. The paper says lenders can be added to the list at any time, and that providers can contact the department to be added or if their position has changed2.