I am an elderly widow, trapped in an unsafe house with my grandson, who is in his first year at college. I need to replace my roof but due to a series of unfortunate events over the last year or so, I am unable to raise the money to cover it.

In 2006 we had a new insulation installed in our loft and it seemed to be a very good thing. However it appears that the spray foam insulation means that the rafters were not being aerated as they should, so there was a very real risk that they would rot and the whole thing would come crashing down.

We had released equity in the house some years ago, to make home improvements but I was unable to release any more funds through this route as “nobody will touch anywhere that has spray foam insulation!”

So, fully anticipating that I would be able to obtain the necessary funds through this route, I took out a bank loan to pay for the removal of the insulation. Unfortunately, the men who carried out the work decided that it was too difficult and simply removed a very small amount of foam and then hid the whole lot with a ‘super quilt’ (insulation padding encased in foil), thus hiding their lack of proficiency. I have had one hip replaced and now my other hip is deteriorating and I was unable to climb the loft ladder to inspect the work in progress, unfortunately. For this abortive attempt at removal I was charged £7,770. When a surveyor arrived to sign off the work, he discovered the truth of the matter and would not issue a certificate, required in order to obtain equity release, or even to sell the house.

By this time I was becoming rather desperate. Debts were mounting due to having paid out more than I could safely afford and ending up with a botched job which I would have to pay more to have put right. The surveyor would not issue a certificate, required to obtain equity release or even to sell the house. In January 2026 another company came and successfully removed all the super quilt and spray foam, at a further cost of £5,760. Unfortunately, the work involved in removing the foam has resulted in a few of the tiles being split and the whole roof now leaks and needs to be replaced, at a cost of at least £20,000.

It subsequently emerged that the company originally employed to remove the insulation had changed its name (a couple of times) and were proving difficult to contact. I have put this in the hands of the credit card company, but these things all take time.

My grandson is living with me and this is obviously affecting his well being as well as mine. My two daughters and I have discussed all these problems many times over the last few months, and we considered selling the house so that I could move in together with one of them who is also my carer. All the grandchildren were all keen on the plan and we started to look at possibilities, but then we had another major setback.

It appears that the deeds have a ‘Tenancy in Common’ restriction which has to be removed before any more equity can be released, and before the house can be sold. This was due to my husband’s will stating that his half of the property was to be placed in trust for our children, although all his debts were entirely for me! I have to pay nearly £3000 to have this restriction removed. It isn’t enough that my children are prepared, keen even, to swear affidavits that they want the trust removed.

Due to all these problems I am rapidly falling out of love with my home of the last 27 years and feel completely trapped, unable to pay to have the work done to allow me to stay in my home, or even to sell it. I will need at least £20,000 to cover the cost of the new roof and, hopefully, I will then be able to release a little more equity to clear the other debts.