Spray foam insulation defects
If you have spray foam insulation defects in your home, your landlord must put it right. The law that covers this is Defective Premises Act 1972 + Consumer Rights Act 2015. Awaab's Law deadlines for this type of problem are being phased in by 2027, but your landlord's duty to repair applies now. How much you could claim depends on how long it lasted, how serious it was, and any effect on your health. Most cases take 16 to 40 weeks. There is no upfront cost.
Symptoms
- Loft feels stuffy, hot, or wet
- Rotting roof timbers (visible discolouration)
- Inability to sell or remortgage (lender refusal)
- Surveyor's report flagging spray foam
- Condensation building up under the roof
Health impact
- Trapped moisture leading to mould throughout property
- Reduced ventilation increases indoor air pollution
- Stress of mortgage / sale blocked by lender concerns
Evidence to gather
- Photograph loft area + any visible foam
- Keep ALL correspondence from mortgage lender or surveyor flagging the issue
- Get an independent surveyor's removal cost estimate
Frequently asked questions
How much money can I claim for spray foam insulation defects?
How much you could get depends on how bad it is, how long it went on, and how it affected your health, so we cannot promise a figure. The fee only comes out of your compensation if you win, never out of your own pocket.
How long does a spray foam insulation defects claim take?
Most spray foam insulation defects claims take 16 to 40 weeks. Once you report the problem, Awaab's Law (Section 10A LTA 1985, started 27 October 2025) gives your landlord a reasonable time to act.
What proof do I need for spray foam insulation defects?
Photos and videos with the date on them. A note of when you told your landlord and what they said. A letter from your doctor if anyone has been ill.
Can I claim if I owe rent?
Yes. Owing rent does not stop you making a disrepair claim. They are separate things in law. We will talk through your situation honestly.
Read more about spray foam insulation defects
This is worth a claim
Tenants are owed real money when a landlord leaves problems like spray foam insulation defects unfixed. This is what landlords were made to pay across England in one recent year, and it is what we help you claim.
- £5.4m
- compensation ordered for tenants in one year
- 26,901
- orders made to put things right
- 40%
- of it for damp, mould and leaks
- £32,000
- the largest single award
Figures from the independent statutory review, Annual Complaints Review 2024 to 2025. These are sector-wide outcomes for social housing tenants in England.
Read deeper, Spray foam insulation
Practical Q&As, legal context, and named case studies on this topic. Every link below is a Support for Tenants page.
By: Support for Tenants editorial team
Last updated:
Reviewed against current housing law for England and Wales as at 15 June 2026. Checked by our SRA-regulated panel solicitors. This is general information, not legal advice for your specific case. Any compensation figures or ranges shown are illustrative only and not guaranteed; every case is different.