SSB Law Victims Support Group: Burnley victims of failed insulation call for urgent help from the Government during second Parliament lobby

That was the message of the SSB Law Victims Support Group at a meeting with MPs in Parliament today. The lobby was the result of a joint campaign by the support group, the Burnley Express, Burnley, Padiham, and Brierfield MP Oliver Ryan and Bradford East MP Imran Hussain and his team.

Debra Sofia Magdalene represents thousands of victims of failed cavity wall insulation installed under a decarbonisation scheme backed by the Government and funded through energy suppliers.

It aimed to make homes more energy efficient and reduce fuel poverty. But victims say it has caused damp, mould, and other long-term damage. They also face tens of thousands in costs to remove the botched measure.

Debra called on the Government to divert money that would fund insulation in more properties and instead use it to fix victims' ruined homes. She also expressed concerns that rogue players could exploit more vulnerable people without stronger Government regulation.

"It's an awful situation. Thousands of homes have been impacted - and this is just the beginning.

"It's a ticking time bomb waiting to go off. How many people are going to be impacted?

"The longer the Government waits, the more families will face financial ruin and health problems."

How has the scandal impacted residents?

Debra highlighted how the lack of regulation, oversight, or follow-up in the scheme has impacted vulnerable residents, including those who are elderly, disabled, on low incomes, and from ethnic minorities.

For some, living with mould and damp has worsened health conditions like asthma. Others struggle with feelings of shame and suicidal thoughts.

Many now face massive debts after signing up for no-win, no-fee compensation claims through firms like Pure Legal and SSB Law before they went bust. Debra also described how threats from bailiffs resulting from the debts have been "absolutely traumatising" for victims.

Why did the insulation fail?

Victims say traders did not conduct pre-surveys to check the insulation was suitable for their property and that there was inadequate regulation of installers, with minimal follow-up on quality control. Debra noted that some installers set up extraction companies after going bust, thereby benefitting financially twice.

She warned that residents now face increased energy costs and require more fuel to heat their homes due to the failed insulation, taking the Government further away from its Net Zero goals.

How did the guarantees fail to protect residents?

Homeowners say they could not claim on their 25-year warranties to extract the failed insulation as they do not cover the entire removal cost, some surpassing £100,000.

Victims call for better regulation of the UK's claims culture

Legal firms like SSB Law exacerbated the problem through negligence, leaving victims stuck in "legal limbo”, Debra said.

Nearly 15 million (14.8m.) properties had government-sponsored cavity wall insulation by 2023.

With Ofgem reporting a 10% failure rate of insulation in 2015, the support group fears that unscrupulous no-win, no-fee firms could target nearly 1,500,000 homes.

It called for ministers to ban the term "no-win, no-fee" and hold a public inquiry into the scandal to understand its scale and stop it from happening again.

To sign our petition for justice, please visit https://www.change.org/CWIscandal