Company News13 August 2026
Calls for contractor guarantee scheme to protect households under Warm Homes Plan
Heating and retrofit contractors delivering government-funded energy efficiency work should provide financial guarantees to protect householders if installations fail, according to evidence submitted to a select committee by Macbrook Gas.
In evidence to Parliament's inquiry into the Government's Warm Homes Plan and proposed Warm Homes Agency, Macbrook Gas CEO Johnthan McKenna warned that weaknesses in previous schemes have left some vulnerable residents exposed to poor-quality work, unfinished projects and lengthy delays to essential home improvements.
The company is calling for tougher requirements for contractors seeking to participate in publicly funded programmes, including evidence of financial stability, compliance history, appropriate insurance and long-term trading credentials. It also recommends exploring performance bonds or financial guarantees that could provide funds to rectify defective installations if firms cease trading or fail to complete works.
According to the submission, "a major weakness in previous schemes has been the ability of some firms to enter the market, complete poor-quality work, cease trading and then re-enter under different corporate structures".
For more than a decade, Macbrook Gas, has delivered heating, retrofit and energy efficiency projects across the UK through schemes including ECO and the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, working works alongside local authorities to tackle fuel poverty.
The submission argues that the Warm Homes Plan should prioritise households most in need, including those experiencing fuel poverty, older residents, people with long-term health conditions and families living in the least energy-efficient homes. It also urges policymakers to focus on unfinished retrofit projects, warning that partially completed heating and insulation works can leave residents in a worse position than before.
Alongside stronger consumer protections, the company supports the creation of a national register of approved installers containing information on compliance performance, audit outcomes, complaints records and accreditation status, helping householders identify trusted suppliers.
Johnathan McKenna, CEO of Macbrook Gas, said: “Most contractors deliver high-quality work and stand behind what they install, but government-funded schemes have, at times, attracted organisations that have been unable or unwilling to do the same. When that happens, it is often vulnerable households that are left dealing with the consequences. We have stepped in and completed several projects that were abandoned by other contractors when funding was pulled, at a cost to ourselves, so we have seen first-hand the impact it can have on families.
“If public money is funding improvements to people's homes, there should be safeguards in place to ensure problems can be put right if a contractor ceases trading or fails to complete the work. Measures such as financial guarantees would help protect residents, strengthen confidence in the sector and support businesses with a proven track record of delivering quality installations.
“The challenge isn't a lack of capable installers. Across the industry there are many experienced contractors delivering excellent work through ECO, the Boiler Upgrade Scheme and local authority programmes. The issue is making sure publicly funded schemes reward quality and long-term commitment rather than simply creating opportunities for short-term entrants.
“For households in fuel poverty, an unfinished or poor-quality installation is more than an inconvenience. It can mean living without adequate heating, facing additional costs or losing confidence in schemes that are designed to help them. Any future programme needs to put consumer protection at its heart.”
The company is calling for tougher requirements for contractors seeking to participate in publicly funded programmes, including evidence of financial stability, compliance history, appropriate insurance and long-term trading credentials. It also recommends exploring performance bonds or financial guarantees that could provide funds to rectify defective installations if firms cease trading or fail to complete works.
According to the submission, "a major weakness in previous schemes has been the ability of some firms to enter the market, complete poor-quality work, cease trading and then re-enter under different corporate structures".
For more than a decade, Macbrook Gas, has delivered heating, retrofit and energy efficiency projects across the UK through schemes including ECO and the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, working works alongside local authorities to tackle fuel poverty.
The submission argues that the Warm Homes Plan should prioritise households most in need, including those experiencing fuel poverty, older residents, people with long-term health conditions and families living in the least energy-efficient homes. It also urges policymakers to focus on unfinished retrofit projects, warning that partially completed heating and insulation works can leave residents in a worse position than before.
Alongside stronger consumer protections, the company supports the creation of a national register of approved installers containing information on compliance performance, audit outcomes, complaints records and accreditation status, helping householders identify trusted suppliers.
Johnathan McKenna, CEO of Macbrook Gas, said: “Most contractors deliver high-quality work and stand behind what they install, but government-funded schemes have, at times, attracted organisations that have been unable or unwilling to do the same. When that happens, it is often vulnerable households that are left dealing with the consequences. We have stepped in and completed several projects that were abandoned by other contractors when funding was pulled, at a cost to ourselves, so we have seen first-hand the impact it can have on families.
“If public money is funding improvements to people's homes, there should be safeguards in place to ensure problems can be put right if a contractor ceases trading or fails to complete the work. Measures such as financial guarantees would help protect residents, strengthen confidence in the sector and support businesses with a proven track record of delivering quality installations.
“The challenge isn't a lack of capable installers. Across the industry there are many experienced contractors delivering excellent work through ECO, the Boiler Upgrade Scheme and local authority programmes. The issue is making sure publicly funded schemes reward quality and long-term commitment rather than simply creating opportunities for short-term entrants.
“For households in fuel poverty, an unfinished or poor-quality installation is more than an inconvenience. It can mean living without adequate heating, facing additional costs or losing confidence in schemes that are designed to help them. Any future programme needs to put consumer protection at its heart.”
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