CIGA Guarantee Claims: What Homeowners Should Check Before Making a Claim

Section 02

Before Making a CIGA Guarantee Claim

OSCAR recommends creating an evidence file before substantial remedial work is undertaken.

Section 04

What Was the Homeowner Told After the CWI Was Installed?

A cavity wall insulation guarantee may remain relevant for decades. If the subsequent condition and maintenance of the building can affect the insulation, an important question arises:

Was written information provided explaining the importance of monitoring and maintaining:

• mortar pointing
• brickwork
• render
• external cracking
• window seals
• door seals
• gutters
• downpipes
• roof and wall junctions
• damp-proof course levels
• external ground levels
• ventilation

Was the homeowner told what to consider before:

• replacing windows
• replacing doors
• extensions
• new openings
• boiler flues
• extractor fans
• air vents
• drilling external walls
• pipes or cables
• other alterations to the external envelope

Section 06

A 25-Year Guarantee Needs a Long-Term Information Trail

A property could have CWI installed for one homeowner and be sold several times during the life of the guarantee.

When somebody purchases a property with existing CWI, do they receive:

• the CWI guarantee
• installation information
• Building Regulations/compliance records
• maintenance requirements
• aftercare information
• previous inspection records
• records of alterations or remedial works

Section 08

Ultimately, Somebody Needs to Look Inside the Cavity

Documentation tells us a great deal about history. It cannot tell us everything about condition today. Where concerns exist, the cavity itself may need specialist inspection.

A CWI inspection may consider:

• whether insulation is present
• insulation material/type
• distribution and apparent coverage
• voids and sparse fill
• condition of the material
• evidence of moisture
• construction debris and mortar snots
• cavity trays and weep holes
• ventilation
• external defects and relevant construction characteristics

Section 10

What if Voids or Missing Insulation Are Found?

Voids, sparse fill or inconsistent insulation distribution can be important findings. They need context.

Finding a void at one inspection point does not automatically establish the condition of the entire elevation. The evidence needs to be sufficiently representative.

Section 12

Before CWI Extraction — Preserve the Evidence

Once insulation has been extracted, the original condition of the installation has been changed permanently.

Before substantial removal or disturbance, consider ensuring that:

• the installation history has been established
• relevant documentation has been collected
• the condition of the external property has been recorded
• appropriate cavity inspections have been undertaken
• insulation distribution and defects have been photographed
• other potential building defects have been considered
• the reason extraction is being recommended has been clearly documented

Section 15

Lost Your CIGA Guarantee?

If you know or believe that CWI at your property was covered by a CIGA guarantee but no longer have the certificate, contact CIGA regarding the records they hold.

OSCAR Onsite is aware that CIGA currently charges customers more than £50 to obtain a copy/replacement guarantee certificate. In OSCAR Onsite's view, this is an excessive charge for a homeowner seeking documentation concerning a long-term guarantee provided in connection with works undertaken to their property.

Section 17

Free OSCAR CIGA Subject Access Request Template

SUBJECT ACCESS REQUEST – CAVITY WALL INSULATION GUARANTEE AND INSTALLATION RECORDS

Dear CIGA Data Protection Team,

I am writing to make a Subject Access Request under Article 15 of the UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018.

Please provide a copy of the personal data that CIGA holds about me in connection with the cavity wall insulation installation, registration and/or CIGA guarantee associated with the following property:

Property address:
[INSERT FULL ADDRESS]

CIGA guarantee number, if known:
[INSERT]

Approximate installation date, if known:
[INSERT]

Name(s) potentially associated with the records:
[INSERT]

My request includes personal data held in connection with the installation or guarantee, including where applicable personal data contained within registration records, installer submissions, correspondence, emails, telephone records, complaints, enquiries, claims, inspection records and historic administration records.

For the avoidance of doubt:

I AM REQUESTING ACCESS TO MY PERSONAL DATA. I AM NOT MAKING A REQUEST TO PURCHASE A REPLACEMENT CIGA GUARANTEE CERTIFICATE.

If you require reasonable additional information to verify my identity or locate the relevant records, please let me know.

I would prefer the information to be supplied electronically.

Yours faithfully,

Name:
Address:
Email:
Telephone:

Section 19

Build a Permanent CWI Record for Your Property

Section 21

Before You Make an Irreversible Decision

If you are concerned about cavity wall insulation, the first question should not automatically be "How much will it cost to extract it?"