The Office of Fair Trading issues call for evidence on the fairness of practices in the insulation sector ahead of Green Deal

The Office of Fair Trading is to investigate the fairness of the insulation industry ahead of the launch of the Green Deal.

The OFT today issued a call for evidence on how well the industry worked for customers and asked whether it ensured that there could be new entrants to the market.

It said its decision to look into the industry was prompted by a high level of complaints from consumers and allegations that tie ups between firms in the supply chain could freeze others out of being able to buy insulation.

Last year the Consumer Direct complaint line received 3,000 complaints about solid and cavity wall insulation.

Nisha Arora, director in the OFT’s Services, Infrastructure and Public Markets Group, said: “The government’s proposed Green Deal and Energy Company Obligation policies are likely to increase the take-up of energy-efficiency measures, so it is important that we examine the home insulation market now to ensure that it is working well for consumers.”

The results of the evidence call will be published in July. Submissions to the OFT must be completed by 2 May.

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