After removal, check what was actually done before you rely on it. There is no official "removal certificate"[1], and the lenders that publish a position treat removed foam differently[2][3]. Collect the removal paperwork, then check for residue, the condition of the timbers and underlay, and the ventilation, and re-insulate in a way that suits the roof.
On this page
Key facts
- Accord Mortgages lists spray foam as unacceptable, "including those where it was used and subsequently removed" (checked 20 Oct 2026)[2]
- Legal & General later-life criteria (Jun 2026) accept removed foam only with PCA-member (or similar) removal, residue cleared, roof report, repairs and building control sign-off[3]
- Nationwide's published criteria (2026) are silent on foam that has been removed[4]
- In a 2025 decision the ombudsman said a lender could doubt a report by the firm that removed the foam and charged for it[5]
- The PCA announced a membership category for removal contractors in late Aug 2026 (reported in the trade press)[6]
Step by step
Get the removal firm's paperwork
Ask for the invoice, the method, the areas cleared and before-and-after photographs. In one ombudsman decision there were no photographs, no moisture readings and no reason given for removal, and the installation complaints failed for lack of evidence[7]. What evidence to keep after removal
Check for residue
Look for foam left on the rafters, battens and underlay, and especially in the eaves. Legal & General's later-life criteria ask for residue to be cleared before a home where foam was removed is considered[3]. What good removal looks like
Have the timbers and underlay checked
RICS says removal can damage the structure the foam was applied to, and the Energy Saving Trust says that structure may then need replacing[1][8]. An independent check can record the condition of what is now visible, with moisture readings. Checking timbers and underlay after removal
Make sure the loft can ventilate
The Planning Portal says eaves ventilation must be kept clear when a loft is insulated[9], and the Energy Saving Trust warns against blocking vents[8]. Removal does not always reopen the eaves, as in Spray foam removed, but the loft still couldn't breathe. Condensation and ventilation
Re-insulate in a way that suits the roof
The Energy Saving Trust rates mineral wool at loft-floor (joist) level among the lowest-risk options, and says no insulation should go on a leaking roof until it is fixed[8]. If new insulation was fitted with the removal, check it is the product on your contract and that it does not block the vents. Re-insulating after removal
Ask your lender what evidence it wants
Lenders' published positions on removed foam differ (checked Oct 2026)[2][3][4], so if you are selling or remortgaging, ask the lender or broker before you apply. What mortgage lenders publish
If you are making a claim, keep the evidence
The ombudsman has found claims harder to prove once the foam was gone[7], and in a 2025 decision said a lender could doubt a report from the firm that removed it and charged for the work[5]. Keep everything, and get an independent record of what is still visible. Section 75 and the Financial Ombudsman
What to do next
- Don't fit new insulation until the timbers and underlay have been checked and any repairs are done.
- An independent check is evidence for your own decisions. It is not a report for a lender, and no one can promise what a lender will do.
- If you want an independent record of the loft after removal, see the check below.
Check the loft before new insulation goes in
A post-removal inspection looks for remaining foam or residue at every accessible point and records the condition of the timbers, so you know where you stand before the loft is closed up again.
Report within 48–72 hours of inspection. Independent: no installation, no removal, no referral commissions.
Travel included within about three hours of the North West; a fixed supplement further away, shown with your total before you book.
It's evidence for your own decisions. It isn't a report for a lender.
Questions first? Call or WhatsApp 07349 718935 WhatsApp (opens in a new tab)
New insulation already fitted? See the Post-Removal & Insulation Check
Case files like this
Anonymised inspections Jan has carried out. Every loft is different.
Spray foam removed, but the loft still couldn't breathe
Walsall · Recent inspection · Post-Removal Verification
Open-cell foam from 2021, removed about five years later. The removal had been done, but no vents were seen in any of the three roof spaces, the eaves were 60–80% blocked, and 13 of 15 timber readings sat at or above 20%.
Read case file Foam removed and new insulation fittedFoam out, foil in: foam still filled the eaves, and the foil wasn't the one contracted
near Horsham · Recent inspection · Post-Removal & Insulation Check
Open-cell foam from 2022, later removed and replaced with multifoil. Solid foam was left in the eaves on both sides, the foil was not the product on the contract and hung from staples alone, and 6 of 11 timber readings reached 20% or more.
Read case file Buying a house with spray foamBuying a house where the foam was already removed: eaves open and no work identified
Torbay · Recent inspection · Post-Removal Verification
A buyer's solicitor asked four questions about a loft where foam had already been removed. The removal was substantially complete, daylight showed through the soffits at four points, all 13 timber readings were under 20%, and no work was identified as necessary.
Read case fileGo deeper: the original sources
3 original documents, each with a note on what it covers.
Questions people ask
Is there a spray foam "removal certificate"?
How do I know the removal was done properly?
Can I get a mortgage after spray foam has been removed?
It depends on the lender. Accord lists foam as unacceptable even after removal[2], Legal & General's later-life criteria accept removed foam with conditions including PCA-member (or similar) removal and building control sign-off[3], and Nationwide's criteria are silent on removed foam[4]. Ask your lender or broker what evidence they want; no one can promise what a lender will do.
Sources
9 sources, numbered as cited in the text. Tap a footnote number to jump to its source.