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Thousands of homes at risk of mould & damp through ‘systematic failure' of government scheme – see if yours is affected

Thousands of homes at risk of mould & damp through ‘systematic failure' of government scheme – see if yours is affected

The Sun12 hours ago
TENS of thousands of homes could be at risk of mould and damp thanks to dodgy insulation being installed through Government-backed schemes.
Households were encouraged to install the measures through two Government schemes aimed at increasing energy efficiency.
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But independent body Trustmark previously found "widespread cases of poor-quality solid wall insulation" installed in homes under the schemes.
Now the Government has admitted there was a "systematic failure" that could put homes at risk of mould, damp and other serious issues.
Miatta Fahnbulleh, the minister for energy consumers, said in a statement that early evidence suggests a "majority" of installations of solid wall insulation were not done "to the appropriate standard".
An audit found examples of poor quality work, including inadequate ventilation or roof-line extensions.
The audit is set to be completed later this summer with the results published in the autumn.
The two schemes affected are the Energy Company Obligation 4 (ECO4) and the Great British Insulation Scheme.
They were launched by the previous Conservative government in April 2022 and May 2023.
The schemes let eligible households apply for free energy-efficiency upgrades, including solid wall insulation, through their energy supplier or local council.
They were aimed at keeping homes warmer and lowering bills for households.
Solid walls - meaning they have no gaps or cavities - are usually found in properties built before the 1920s.
I'm a mum-of-12, I swear by £1.15 bathroom cleaner and £3.25 mould cleaner in our busy house
They can be insulated by adding a layer of material to the inside or outside to trap heat.
But the initial investigation by Trustmark found:
Exposed insulation or poor ventilation that could lead to damp and mould
A "very small number" of properties with serious health and safety concerns, such as incorrectly fitted wiring
More minor issues, such as missing or incorrect paperwork.
What if I'm affected?
Not all homes that had this insulation fitted will be unsafe or at risk.
If it's thought you've been affected then you'll be contacted automatically by energy regulator Ofgem.
The Government previously said households can expect to receive a letter from Ofgem explaining how it will check if your home is impacted.
If any issues are found, you will not have to pay to get it fixed - the company that originally installed it will be required to fix it for you.
If the firm has gone out of business, you should be covered by a £20,000 guarantee.
Ms Fahnbulleh said: "I know this news will be concerning for people who have had external or internal wall insulation fitted through either scheme we have inherited.
"That is why we are taking action to put this right, forcing installers to fix any poor-quality installations as soon as possible and at their own expense.
"Affected households should look out for a letter from Ofgem, which will set out steps to resolve any issues."
How else can I insulate my home?
There are plenty of other safe ways to insulate your home.
You could try adding a layer of mineral wool or sheep wool to your loft or in your roof.
It costs around £900 to insulate a semi-detached home with 270mm of loft insulation, the Energy Saving Trust says.
But it could save you around £230 a year, meaning you would make the cost back in around three years.
Avoid getting spray foam insulation installed as this could actually damage your home and make it difficult to sell.
You can also draught-proof your windows and doors yourself on the cheap to prevent heat escaping to save around £40 a year.
A roll of draught insulation tape costs around £5, or you can get a professional in for around £250.
Inefficient boilers can also cost you money on your energy bills.
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EUAN MCCOLM: Thirty years ago I had my first clash with a member of the 'lanyard class'. Sadly, it was only a taste of things to come
EUAN MCCOLM: Thirty years ago I had my first clash with a member of the 'lanyard class'. Sadly, it was only a taste of things to come

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  • Daily Mail​

EUAN MCCOLM: Thirty years ago I had my first clash with a member of the 'lanyard class'. Sadly, it was only a taste of things to come

It was supposed to make my life easier, but within an hour I was the most loathed man in the room. Thirty years ago, while working as a reporter for a newspaper in the North-East of England, I was compelled by my employers to attend a 'stress management' course. Over two days inside a stuffy meeting room at St James' Park, I would be taught techniques to make me happier and more efficient. The course leader decided to begin proceedings with a general knowledge quiz. This, he said, would place us in a real-life stress situation. The quiz was not in the slightest bit stressful. The aftermath, on the other hand… I came top in the quiz, by some distance. I'm not saying my fellow stress managers were idiots but I'm hardly the fizziest drink in the fridge and I didn't get a question wrong. Having marked myself out, by knowing the name of the capital of Brazil, as having airs and graces, I was treated with suspicion by the others. Over the following two days, we sat in that airless room listening to a man with the most punchable face I'd ever seen suggest a variety of ways in which we might reduce our stress levels. What he did was this: every night, as he drove home, he'd pass a service station a mile from his house. At this point, he would tell himself that he was no longer in 'the work world'. If this wasn't enough, he might light some candles and have a long soak in the tub. Reader, I am what you might call a smart-a*** and so I took great pleasure in irritating this charlatan, who was being paid handsomely so that my bosses could tick a box that said they were doing the right thing by their staff. When he asked whether, if I was in a plane and the engines died, I'd parachute to safety, I played it deadpan. 'Dunno,' I said. 'But if you don't, you'll die,' he said. 'I get that,' I replied. 'It's just I don't know whether, in the moment, I'd be able to jump.' 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I was virgin before university but ended up sleeping with five different guys since… I feel disgusted
I was virgin before university but ended up sleeping with five different guys since… I feel disgusted

The Sun

time20 minutes ago

  • The Sun

I was virgin before university but ended up sleeping with five different guys since… I feel disgusted

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Paintings celebrate 800 years of Britain's ‘first environmental laws'
Paintings celebrate 800 years of Britain's ‘first environmental laws'

The Independent

timean hour ago

  • The Independent

Paintings celebrate 800 years of Britain's ‘first environmental laws'

Paintings celebrating 800 years of Britain's 'first environmental laws' are going on display in London. An exhibition commemorating eight centuries of Magna Carta and the Charter of the Forest is opening at the Society of Antiquaries in Burlington House, London. As part of the exhibition, Dan Llywelyn Hall, the youngest artist to paint a portrait of the late Queen, has been commissioned to produce four pictures depicting trees across Great Britain. All the trees included in the work, entitled the Totems to the Charter, were alive at the time the Charter of the Forest was signed. It includes one tree said to have witnessed the signing of the first Magna Carta in 1215. The Charter of the Forest, which Mr Llywelyn Hall described as the 'first bit of environmental legislation,' was a crucial appendix to Magna Carta, which ultimately paved the way for our right to access woodland. The Magna Carta was republished several times, with the final version created in February 1225, issued with a version of the Charter. Some elements of the forest laws remained in force until the 1970s. One of Mr Llywelyn Hall's pictures depicts the Ankerwycke Yew, an ancient tree close to the ruins of St Mary's Priory in Surrey, which is believed to be 1,400 to 2,500 years old. While the signing of the original Magna Carta in 1215 is largely believed to have taken place in nearby Runnymede, the National Trust has said that some people believe the sealing actually took place by the tree. The yew is also said to be one of the places where Henry VIII courted Anne Boleyn. Mr Llywelyn Hall has also captured the Caledonian Forest Pines of Scotland, which are descended from the first pines in the country, which arrived around 7,000BC. The Glen Loyne Pine depicted is one of the oldest that remains and a veteran of its species. The artist has also painted Curley Oak of the Wentwood Forest in Wales, which is more than 1,000 years old and the oldest Oak in that country. Mr Llywelyn Hall described the oak as sitting squat, nestled in a dense pine forest and 'oozing with atmosphere and an otherworldly presence'. The artist's final picture is of Beech trees near the Lost Pond in Epping Forest, some of the oldest in the world of the species. He described the 'vast sprawl' of the Lost Pond Beech as depicted as an 'ominous guardian'. Mr Llywelyn Hall said: 'The Totems to the Charter are the silent witnesses; the ancient veteran trees that were around at the time of the signing, 800 years ago. 'The Charter of the Forest is the first bit of environmental legislation that ultimately paved the way for our rights of way and access to our cherished ancient woodland. 'These rare, silent witnesses are largely the accidental survivors in dense forests; embodying history myth and legend; not to mention extraordinary eco-systems of their own. 'They deserve more reverence and protection than any man made structure.' The paintings, which go on display from July 25 to September 19, will be sold to raise funds for the Society of Antiquaries library and collection as well as the charities Trees for Life and Trees for Cities. Steve Micklewright, chief executive of rewilding charity Trees for Life, said Totems celebrated a landmark charter which recognised 'the essential relationship between humanity and woodlands'. 'We are delighted that this exhibition will bring more attention to our native woodlands and the vital role they play in supporting nature and people,' he said. During the reign of King John, who signed the first Magna Carta of 1215, large swathes of England were designated royal forest and set aside solely for the king's use. The Charter of the Forest charter granted rights to land, food and fuel to a wide cross-section of English society, from barons to commoners. While Magna Carta and the charter were English documents, chapters did deal with grievances with Welsh rulers and the King of Scotland. It is believed to be the first document in which English and Welsh law appear together and shows the Welsh, Scots and English sharing political ideas and procedures.

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