CIGA Guarantee Claims: Your 25-Year Cavity Wall Insulation Protection
If your cavity wall insulation is causing damp, mould, or structural damage, the Cavity Insulation Guarantee Agency (CIGA) 25-year guarantee should cover repairs or removal. Here's how to claim.
What is CIGA?
The Cavity Insulation Guarantee Agency is an independent organization that provides 25-year guarantees for cavity wall insulation installations. Established in 1976, CIGA protects homeowners when insulation causes problems.
Key Facts:
- Coverage: 25 years from installation date
- Cost to you: £0 - CIGA covers all approved work
- Scope: Extraction, remedial plastering, making good
- Transfer: Guarantee transfers automatically when you sell the property
- Coverage area: England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland
What Does CIGA Cover?
✓ Problems CIGA WILL Cover:
Penetrating Damp from Insulation
Water crossing the cavity due to poorly installed insulation bridging the gap
Installation Defects
Insulation installed in unsuitable cavities or with poor technique
Mould Growth Caused by Insulation
Directly resulting from moisture penetration via insulation bridges
Cavity Not Filled Properly
Gaps, voids, or uneven distribution causing thermal bridging
✗ Problems CIGA WON'T Cover:
Pre-Existing Damp Issues
Damp problems that existed before insulation was installed
Condensation Issues
Condensation caused by inadequate ventilation (not penetrating damp)
Other Building Defects
Leaking gutters, cracked render, faulty pointing - unless directly caused by extraction
Cosmetic Preferences
Wanting insulation removed for mortgage purposes without proven defects
Properties Without Guarantees
DIY installations or work by non-CIGA registered installers
How to Make a CIGA Claim: Step-by-Step
Find Your CIGA Guarantee Number
Your guarantee number should be on the original installation certificate. If you don't have it, CIGA can search their database using your address.
Where to look:
- Property sale documents (often in the conveyancing pack)
- Home improvement paperwork
- Contact the original installer (if known)
- Call CIGA directly: 01525 853 300
Document the Problems
Gather evidence of the defects caused by the insulation. The stronger your evidence, the smoother your claim.
Evidence to collect:
- Photos of damp patches, mould, staining (dated if possible)
- Notes of when problems started
- Any correspondence with the installer
- Moisture meter readings (if you have access)
- Before/after photos if problems worsened post-installation
Contact CIGA
Submit your claim via phone, email, or the CIGA website. They'll register your complaint and arrange an inspection.
CIGA Contact Details:
📞 Phone: 01525 853 300
✉️ Email: info@ciga.co.uk
🌐 Website: www.ciga.co.uk
📍 Address: CIGA, 3 Vimy Court, Leighton Buzzard, LU7 1FG
CIGA Inspection
CIGA will arrange for an independent surveyor to visit your property (usually within 2-4 weeks). This survey is free.
During the inspection:
- Show the surveyor all affected areas
- Explain the timeline of problems
- Provide any documentation you've collected
- Ask questions about the process and likely outcome
- The surveyor may use a borescope to inspect the cavity
Decision and Remedial Work
CIGA reviews the survey report and decides whether to approve the claim. If approved, they'll arrange and pay for remedial work.
Typical timeline after inspection:
- • Decision letter: 1-2 weeks
- • If approved: Contractor appointment within 4-6 weeks
- • Extraction work: 1-3 days (depending on property size)
- • Making good: Additional 1-2 days
Total time from claim to completion: Typically 8-12 weeks
CIGA Claim Success Rates: The Reality
Common Approval Reasons:
- ✓Clear evidence of water penetration through cavity due to insulation bridging
- ✓Damp meter readings showing elevated moisture in affected walls
- ✓Borescope inspection confirms poor installation
- ✓Problems appeared shortly after installation (strong timeline evidence)
- ✓No other plausible cause for damp identified
Common Rejection Reasons:
- ✗Surveyor determines damp is condensation, not penetrating
- ✗Other building defects identified (e.g., cracked render, faulty gutters)
- ✗No guarantee record found (DIY job or unregistered installer)
- ✗Problems existed before installation (based on home survey reports)
- ✗Claim made outside 25-year period
Industry Statistics (2022-2024):
What to Do If CIGA Rejects Your Claim
A CIGA rejection isn't the end of the road. You have several options to challenge the decision or pursue alternative routes.
Real CIGA Claim Outcomes
Successful Claim - Birmingham
Property: 1930s semi-detached | Installed: 2015 (ECO scheme)
Problem: Severe damp patches on north-facing walls, black mould in bedrooms
Timeline:
- • Week 1: Claimed via CIGA website
- • Week 3: Surveyor inspection
- • Week 5: Claim approved
- • Week 9: Extraction completed
- • Week 11: Walls replastered and decorated
Outcome: £6,800 of work completed at zero cost to homeowner. Damp resolved.
Initial Rejection → Legal Success - Manchester
Property: Victorian terrace | Installed: 2018 (Government grant)
Problem: Penetrating damp, mortgage valuation reduced by £25K
Journey:
- • Week 1-5: CIGA claim submitted and inspected
- • Week 6: Claim rejected - "condensation, not penetrating damp"
- • Week 8: Obtained independent surveyor report (£450)
- • Week 10: Appealed to CIGA with new evidence
- • Week 12: Second rejection
- • Month 4: Instructed solicitor for Consumer Rights claim
- • Month 7: Installer settled out of court
Outcome: £8,200 compensation paid. Used funds for extraction + replastering.
CIGA Claim Quick Reference
✓ Do This:
- ▸Claim as soon as you notice problems
- ▸Take comprehensive photos and notes
- ▸Be present during the inspection
- ▸Request a copy of the surveyor's report
- ▸Keep all correspondence organized
- ▸Consider an independent survey if rejected
✗ Don't Do This:
- ▸Don't pay for private extraction before claiming
- ▸Don't accept the first rejection without question
- ▸Don't exaggerate or misrepresent problems
- ▸Don't ignore other building defects (fix separately)
- ▸Don't delay - problems worsen over time
- ▸Don't assume you don't have a guarantee (check!)
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