Why Is Spray Foam Insulation Making Homes Unsellable?

If you've been told that spray foam insulation is stopping your house sale from going through, you're not alone. From South Wales to the West Midlands, more and more UK homeowners are discovering that a “modern upgrade” in the loft is now turning buyers — and lenders — away.

But why? If it was once marketed as energy-saving and cost-effective, how did it become a dealbreaker?

In this guide, we explain exactly why spray foam is making homes difficult (or impossible) to sell — and what to do if your property is affected.

Lenders Don’t Like What They Can’t See

The core issue is access. Spray foam — especially closed-cell foam — creates a hard seal directly over the roof structure. That means:

• Surveyors can’t inspect the roof timbers
• There’s no way to visually check for rot, leaks, or movement
• The roof becomes a high-risk unknown to the mortgage provider

As a result, lenders often:

• Downgrade valuations
• Withdraw mortgage offers
• Reject equity release applications

This leads buyers to either walk away or renegotiate heavily.

Common Sale Problems We Hear

• “Our buyer was approved… then declined after the survey.”
• “We weren’t even aware it was an issue until the sale collapsed.”
• “Now we’re being told it has to come out before anyone will proceed.”

We hear these stories every week at Snug & Secure, and in most cases, the seller had no idea spray foam would ever become a problem.

The Red Flag on the HomeBuyer Report

When a surveyor inspects your home, they will flag the presence of spray foam insulation. If they can’t assess the condition of the roof behind it, the report will note:

• Restricted access to timber
• Inability to verify roof integrity
• Recommendation for further investigation or removal

For many buyers — and especially lenders — this is enough to pause or stop the process entirely.

Can the Problem Be Fixed?

Yes — but only if the spray foam is removed.

At Snug & Secure, we specialise in removing spray foam insulation from lofts without damaging the structure beneath. We then re-insulate with breathable materials that meet modern standards — and importantly, don’t cause mortgage issues down the line.

We also provide:

• Before-and-after documentation
• Certificates of removal
• Advice tailored to your property and plans

Explore the full process on our Spray Foam Removal page.

Final Thoughts

Spray foam doesn’t always make a home unsellable — but it often delays or derails sales by triggering lender concern, surveyor reports, and buyer hesitation.

If you’re planning to sell, the cleanest route forward is to remove it and restore visibility to your loft space. That way, buyers (and lenders) have one less reason to say no.

Need help? Contact us or browse the rest of our blog for clear advice and next steps.