Homeowners in Worcestershire are being urged to be vigilant after reports of rogue traders targeting properties with spray foam insulation.
The Property Care Association (PCA) has issued the alert, raising concerns that residents are being targeted by rogue contractors posing as PCA members to promote costly spray foam removal services that may not be necessary.
Spray foam insulation, while effective when installed correctly, can cause significant issues if applied poorly.
Trapped moisture can lead to damp, mould, and timber decay, and it is difficult and expensive to remove.
In the UK around 250,000 homes have spray foam insulation and many of those householders are now struggling to sell or release equity.
Poorly applied spray foam can cause damp, mould and timber decay (Image: The Property Care Association (PCA))
Hannah Clarke, head of membership at the PCA, said: “Spray foam scammers are becoming increasingly sophisticated.
“We’ve had reports of homeowners being told they are on a ‘national database’ of properties that are likely to lose value if the insulation is not removed.
“In some cases, vulnerable customers, including pensioners, have been lulled into a false sense of security with so-called ‘surveyors’ presenting fake ID that includes the PCA logo, despite the fact that our members do not offer spray foam insulation removal services.
“We’ve even had reports from PCA members that fraudsters have impersonated them, going as far as producing fake reports in their name.”
The PCA does not currently represent companies carrying out spray foam removal, instead offering a register of trained and audited spray foam surveyors to help homeowners get independent assessments.
In response to rising concerns, the PCA has collaborated with several industry organisations to publish a consumer guide.
It includes practical advice on finding qualified surveyors and has been developed with input from the Residential Property Surveyors Association (RPSA), Insulation Manufacturers Association (IMA), Andy Wilson Financial Services, Bangor University, and RPC.
Anyone concerned about potential scams can call the PCA on 01480 400000.
