Getting an insulation problem assessed
Some inspections are free to you — through a scheme audit or a guarantee claim. Others are paid surveys. This page explains which applies, what a good inspection covers, and how to ask us to introduce a specialist.
Free inspection or paid survey?
External wall insulation under ECO4 or GBIS
TrustMark's Find & Fix programme offers a free audit to every household that had external wall insulation under these schemes. Repairs it finds should not cost you.
How the audit worksCavity wall insulation with a guarantee
If you hold a CIGA or IAA guarantee, report the problem to the installer and then the guarantee body, which can inspect. Remedial work for a confirmed defect is free, up to the guarantee limit.
How CIGA guarantees workEverything else
Spray foam, private work, internal wall insulation outside the schemes, or a problem with no guarantee behind it. An independent survey is normally something you pay for.
Typical survey costsWhat a useful inspection should cover
- What insulation is installed, where, and what the building is made of.
- Where the damp, mould or damage is, and moisture readings to show how bad it is.
- The likely cause — including everyday causes such as condensation, leaking gutters, poor pointing or blocked ventilation — and how confident the surveyor is.
- Whether the installation appears to meet the standards it was fitted to, where the surveyor can tell.
- What should be done, in what order, and whether removal is actually needed.
- A written report with photos that you can share with an installer, guarantee provider or lender.
Before you book, ask the surveyor what the inspection includes, whether you get a written report, what it costs, and whether they have any link to a company that might then quote for the work.
Typical survey costs
| Type of survey | Typical cost | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Damp survey | £150–£300 | HomeOwners Alliance |
| Specialist spray foam inspection | £500–£700 | HomeOwners Alliance |
| RICS Home Survey Level 3 (full building survey) | £630–£1,500, depending on property value | HomeOwners Alliance |
An independent inspection of cavity or external wall insulation, for example with a borescope or thermal imaging, varies with the property and the scope. Get a fixed written quote first. Prices are indicative only. Last reviewed September 2026.
Ask for a specialist
Sending an enquiry is free. With your consent it goes to Better Home Hub, which runs this site and may introduce you to a specialist who covers your area. The specialist may pay Better Home Hub a fee. Any survey is agreed, and priced, between you and them.