Net Zero has ruined our residence: Heartbroken household says eco-friendly scheme left quaint 110-year-old cottage lined in black mould and slashed £200k off its worth

Not long ago the Wadleys were a happy family living in a lovely five-bedroom home on the beautiful Gower coastline in Wales.

But after being given a Government grant to install insulation inside their 110-year old house, NHS manager Becs Wadley was driven to the brink of suicide.

Meanwhile, her husband Tony caught pneumonia and their son was forced to move out. 

The couple were given the grant because they thought the warmer home would help their oldest child Elliott’s severe asthma.

Instead, the Wadleys discovered potentially deadly black mould was growing behind the insulation boards – a huge health risk for 19-year-old Elliot. 

The family spent Christmas with relatives so they could be with their law student son, rather than risk his health in the home they once cherished.

Mother-of-three Mrs Wadley said: ‘We are a close family, being together at this time of year is everything to us.

‘But it’s not safe for Elliott to be here, he’s effectively ostracised from the family home.

‘We moved out for Christmas to stay with Tony’s sister. Elliott’s not been here since April, he stays with his grandmother when he’s not in university.

‘We feel robbed of the time Elliott should be spending with us and his younger brothers Freddie and Felix.’

Insulation company Stellar Insulation, said that while they are ‘truly sorry to hear that the family’s eldest son has been struggling with his asthma,’ they have not ‘to date… seen a medical report or professional guidance regarding his condition and any causal link between it and our installation’.

Contractors started work on the property eighteen months ago and the interior of the property and home is crumbling.  

Plaster has been chiselled off walls leaving the bare stone, electric wiring hangs from what once were light fittings, the ceilings are falling through and carpets ruined.

Huge patches of black mould cover the walls of the spacious living room where the family would normally have been together at this time of year, watching Christmas TV and eating mince pies.

The property was not long ago valued at £850,000 but it is now worth £600,000 and depreciating as the weeks go by.

The Wadleys are among more than 300 homeowners nationwide who have had their properties damaged after being approved for a Government scheme known as ECO4.

As part of the Government scheme the Wadleys were given solar panels, two heat pumps, new radiators and plumbing and roof insulation and wall insulation. 

In October, the National Audit Office spending watchdog found 98 per cent of homes fitted with external wall insulation under ECO4 had major issues that needed to be repaired.

In 2024, Stellar Energy UK Ltd, a Llanelli-based company that advertises ‘Government backed energy grant solutions’ started work on the Wadley’s home.

On its website the firm boasts: ‘Stellar Energy not only help people access these Government-backed grants, but are also PAS2030 certified installers, recognised by the scheme, that are licensed to install these energy saving products in your home.’

Mrs Wadley said: ‘The company came along and did a survey which it turns out was incorrect. They say it was predominantly a stone house which it’s not.

‘Part of the house is stone, the rest is cavity wall. They insulated it as if it was stone everywhere. There were several opportunities for them to realise they had got it wrong but at no point did they pick it up.’

When damp started appearing the Wadleys discovered the newly installed wool insulation was wet. They bought a damp metre and in one room they got a reading of 43 per cent.

Mrs Wadley said: ‘We went from a gravity fed system to a mains system and they hadn’t done the correct survey.

‘The day they switched it over it ruined our dishwasher and all our white goods because there wasn’t enough water pressure.

‘For four months we had to hand wash our clothes or use a launderette.’

In the end the couple had to dig up their front garden for a new water main to be laid at their own expense.

Mrs Wadley said: ‘Everything they have done, they’ve done wrong. It’s been a living nightmare and it still goes on.

‘Over the last 18 months I would say we’ve had over 100 different workmen here, including subcontractors.

‘It got to the state where if someone from Steller was going around to see us I wouldn’t sleep the night before.

‘I lost the plot, I was suicidal two months ago, I’m on medication, it’s affected our marriage.’

Tony, 55, was hit by pneumonia and son Freddie came out in a rash over his face and torso, which the family say was caused by the black mould.

Chocolate manufacturer Tony showed the Daily Mail around his home of nine years, once his pride and joy.

He said: ‘It’s like Beirut. Just about every room has been damaged. Our house has been slowly destroyed from the inside.

‘We’ve thought about selling, we were at the end of our tether but who would buy the house in this state. We are financial prisoners here.’

The couple have brought in independent surveyors and are considering their next move after reporting the company to Ofgem and Trustmark, the Government’s endorsed quality scheme.

The Department of Energy Security and Net Zero has said it is taking action to ensure consumers are no longer let down by poor installations.

Stellar Energy UK LTD said: ‘We acknowledge that the Wadley family feels they have experienced a significant toll during this process, and we are truly sorry to hear that they feel this way. We consider that we have been working hard with the family, and independent experts, to resolve any difficulties that may have been caused by Stellar Energy’s installation and remain committed to doing so.

‘Stellar Energy is truly sorry to hear that the family’s eldest son has been struggling with his asthma. To date, we have not seen a medical report or professional guidance regarding his condition and any causal link between it and our installation. However, we are always open to conversations about how we can help, and remain committed to doing what we can to make the situation the best it can be for the whole family.

‘We maintain full confidence in the technical design, which was meticulously selected in strict accordance with the mandatory technical specifications of the ECO4 scheme — a government-backed initiative. The systems utilised, such as the SWIP Vapour Open system, are specifically approved for solid-wall stone properties common in Wales to allow the building to “breathe.” Following the installation, all independent warranties were issued, confirming the work was verified as compliant with industry specifications.

‘Our records show that all materials used — including the insulation boards — were fully approved under the ECO4 scheme. We believe the design is technically correct for a stone house and was installed exactly as it was intended to be.

‘It is also worth noting that since October, as the weather began to turn, we have been contributing towards the family’s energy bills at our own suggestion (though without any admission of liability). We haven’t looked for any credit for doing this; we simply wanted to show our care and support for the Wadleys whilst the insulation is being restored. We feel this is the right thing to do and reflects our genuine desire to look after our customers and find a kind, fair resolution for everyone involved.’