Landlords installing insulation 'should use professionals'

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Landlords seeking to improve the value and energy efficiency of their properties by installing insulation should always use a professional company, according to an expert.

Choosing to try to install features such as cavity wall insulation themselves could mean that the finished job may not adhere to health and safety regulations, warned Neil Marshall, chief executive of the National Insulation Association.

He also explained that incorrectly installed insulation can be ineffective, doing little to prevent heat loss.

"If you pay for a professional installation they will ensure that the required depth of insulation is put into the loft and that the required pattern is followed by cross laying over the joists," Mr Marshall said.

"There are also health and safety issues to be addressed that DIY-ers may not adhere to, such as ensuring that air vents are not blocked off and that gas heating vents are free from obstruction."

As well as offering energy bill savings for their tenants, according to the Energy Saving Trust, landlords installing insulation in their residential lettings can save as much as one tonne of carbon emissions annually.

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