Burnley campaigners gathering evidence to support households affected by failed cavity wall insulation

Thousands of UK households are believed to be impacted by faulty or inappropriate retrofit CWI installed under government schemes like ECO.

The evidence-gathering mission follows growing concern about unresolved property damage and health issues. Despite the problem’s scale, no national dataset currently exists to represent the reality of affected homeowners. This evidence gap has slowed political progress and left families without meaningful routes to remediation, say campaigners.

The initiative is supported by Burnley, Padiham, and Brierfield MP Oliver Ryan, who has raised the issue in Parliament.

He is now preparing a ministerial briefing to highlight the issue’s scale. To do this, affected householders are being asked to complete a CWI Victim Property Case Form designed to gather consistent national evidence.

“My intention is to bring ministers clear, consistent evidence from across the UK so we can finally move this issue forward,” said MP Ryan.

"This form will help us demonstrate the scale of the problem and make the case for a fair route to remediation.”

All information shared for the ministerial briefing will be anonymised. Personal case details will remain with each householder’s own MP as part of their normal constituency casework.

Debra Sofia Magdalene, campaign lead, is coordinating the national data collection.

“Every completed form strengthens the argument for government-supported repairs,” said Debra.

"People are not just helping themselves - they are helping every other victim across the country who is living with the same issues. This is how we turn individual voices into national action.”

Reported impacts include:

• damp, mould, and structural deterioration;
• respiratory and physical health problems;
• rising heating costs and financial strain;
• children and vulnerable residents living in unsafe or unsuitable rooms;
• homes becoming un-mortgageable or impossible to sell.

The initiative also follows the withdrawal of ECO funding in the Autumn Budget. Campaigners say this decision has increased concern among affected communities, who now face fewer routes to remediation. They stress that collecting evidence rapidly is essential to securing government action.

Residents can complete the form at https://forms.gle/UzgDsdfTe38qaynh7

Participants will receive an email copy of their answers, which they can print and send with photographs or evidence to [email protected]

You can send a PDF paper copy, but the online form must still be completed to be counted in the national evidence.