Riva Surveyors Ltd: Spray Foam Insulation Scam Fined £48,891 After Targeting Elderly Homeowners

Riva Surveyors Ltd has been ordered to pay £48,891 in fines and compensation after a Suffolk Trading Standards investigation exposed a deliberate, sustained campaign of deception targeting elderly homeowners across four English counties.

The company, which originally traded under the name Riba Surveyors Ltd before being forced to change its name by the Royal Institute of British Architects, cold-called and doorstepped vulnerable pensioners, fabricated roof defects, and pressured them into paying thousands of pounds for spray foam insulation that was unnecessary, overpriced, and in some cases actively damaging to their properties.

Its senior salesman, Justin Brason, received a 12-month prison sentence (suspended for 18 months) for his role in the fraud. One victim told the court that opening her door to Brason had "ruined the last six years of my life."

This is the full story of what happened, what the court found, and what affected homeowners should do now.

Who Were Riva Surveyors Ltd?

Riva Surveyors Limited (Companies House number 11987055) was incorporated on 9 May 2019 and registered at CWG House, Gallamore Lane, Market Rasen, Lincolnshire. Its current status on Companies House is "Active" with an update stating "Compulsory strike-off action has been discontinued," meaning the company was in the process of being removed from the register, but that has been stopped. This can often indicate ongoing legal battles involving a company that is no longer trading.

Riva Surveys Limited is still technically active after strike off action was discontineud.

The company originally operated under the name Riba Surveyors Ltd. However, it was forced to rebrand after receiving a cease and desist letter from the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) (one of the UK's most respected professional bodies) over the confusingly similar name. The company changed its name to Riva Surveyors Ltd but continued the same business practices.

A related company, Riva Surveyors (Commercial) Limited (12481500), was incorporated in February 2020 at the same Market Rasen address.

Riva marketed itself as a provider of loft insulation services, including its branded "Cosy Loft" spray foam system. The company's Trustpilot page for its trading website rivainsulation.co.uk shows a mix of reviews, with some customers praising polite installers, all the while the same company was systematically defrauding elderly homeowners elsewhere.

Justin Brason, aged 45, of Brambling Close, Stowmarket, Suffolk, served as the company's senior salesman. Court reporting revealed that Brason was the son of the company's former director, making this a family-run fraud operation.

How the Riva Surveyors Spray Foam Scam Operated

Between July 2019 and February 2020, Riva Surveyors Ltd systematically targeted elderly homeowners across Suffolk, Essex, Cambridgeshire, and Norfolk. The scam followed a clear, repeatable pattern.

• Cold calls and doorstepping. The company's first contact with victims was typically an unsolicited phone call or a knock at the door. They offered "free loft inspections", framing the visit as a helpful, no-obligation service. In reality, these were sales visits designed to gain access to vulnerable people's homes.

• Fabricated defects. Once inside, the company's so-called "surveyors" would inspect the loft and report serious roof defects such as damp, mould, infestations, or structural problems. But as an expert witness later confirmed to the court, these problems were either grossly exaggerated or entirely made up.

• Urgency and fear. Victims were told their roofs were structurally unsound and that failure to act immediately would lead to serious damage. This manufactured urgency was designed to prevent homeowners from seeking second opinions or taking time to consider their options.

• Vastly inflated prices. The spray foam insulation sold was priced far above market rates. In Justin Brason's case alone, the intended financial loss across his eight victims was calculated at £54,000.

• Unnecessary and damaging work. The insulation sold was, in the court's words, "unnecessary and, in some cases, unsuitable for the properties." Far from helping, the spray foam could actually reduce property values and make homes harder to sell or remortgage - the opposite of what victims had been promised.

The Victims: Elderly, Vulnerable, and Living Alone

The human cost of Riva Surveyors' operation was devastating. Out of 20 affected consumers identified by the investigation, six went ahead with the work, suffering significant financial losses. Many were elderly and living alone: precisely the people least able to resist high-pressure sales tactics and least likely to research the company beforehand.

The court heard individual victim accounts that illustrate the scale of harm.

One 83-year-old woman was visited by Justin Brason after she had already changed her mind about £7,000 worth of proposed work. Despite her attempts to cancel, the pressure continued. She was later told her property was "worthless" until the foam was removed, which cost her a further expense on top of what she had already paid. In her victim statement, read before Ipswich Crown Court, she wrote that the company needed to understand the stress caused by people profiting from vulnerability, and that if she had simply not opened the door to Brason, it would not have ruined the last six years of her life.

Two victims had to pay for professional spray foam removal at additional cost just to be able to remortgage or sell their homes — a cruel irony, given that the insulation was supposed to improve their properties.

A family member of other victims described the severe health impact caused by the anxiety of being scammed, noting that their parents were preyed upon by someone with no morals, and expressing hope that the sentence would deter others who destroy the lives of elderly people.

The Court Case: 21 Offences, £48,891 in Penalties

Suffolk County Council's Trading Standards team led the investigation into Riva Surveyors, with support from the National Trading Standards Tri Region Investigation Team (TRIT) due to the cross-county scale of the offending.

Both Riva Surveyors Ltd and Justin Brason appeared at Ipswich Crown Court in December 2025 for sentencing.

Riva Surveyors Ltd pleaded guilty to 21 counts of engaging in a commercial practice which was a misleading action, contrary to regulations 5 and 9 of the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008. The company was fined £850 per offence (£17,850 total) and ordered to pay £31,021 in direct compensation to affected consumers. The combined liability of £48,891 must be paid within 12 months. The judge chose not to award prosecution costs, prioritising victim compensation instead.

Justin Brason pleaded guilty to 8 counts of the same offence. He later attempted to withdraw his guilty plea, but this was rejected by the court in September 2025. He was sentenced to 12 months' imprisonment, suspended for 18 months. Each of his eight offences received a consecutive 12-month sentence, reflecting the judge's view that every offence was equally serious. He was also ordered to pay £1,500 in compensation (at £75 per month from February 2026), complete 10 rehabilitation activity days, and carry out 200 hours of unpaid work.

The judge noted that both culpability and harm were high, though accepted that there had been no further complaints since the investigation began. The company was described as "largely dormant," and securing compensation was characterised as a good result given the circumstances.

What the Authorities Said

The case drew strong public statements from multiple levels of government and consumer protection.

Graham Crisp, Head of Suffolk Trading Standards, called the case a "deliberate and sustained campaign of deception," noting that victims were frightened and pressured into paying for unnecessary and sometimes damaging work. He urged residents to seek independent advice before agreeing to any home work and to avoid cold callers offering free surveys.

Councillor Steve Wiles, Suffolk County Council's Cabinet Member for Public Health and Public Protection, highlighted the shocking lengths that some individuals go to in exploiting the elderly and vulnerable.

Lord Michael Bichard, Chair of National Trading Standards, placed the case in a wider context of misconduct in the energy sector. He noted that victims were stripped not only of their savings but also suffered huge emotional distress and long-lasting anxiety, and urged anyone who had been targeted by similar scams to report it.

A Wider Pattern: Spray Foam Scams Across the UK

Riva Surveyors was not operating in isolation. The same tactics — cold calls, fake surveys, fabricated defects, and high-pressure selling of unnecessary spray foam — have been prosecuted across England in recent years.

In February 2025, Kellie Ward, director of Efficient Living Ltd, was convicted at Chelmsford Crown Court of three deception offences after her Essex-based company used fake moisture meter readings to sell spray foam to elderly homeowners. Ward received a suspended sentence and a five-year director's disqualification. One victim was left with a £12,000 bill to undo the damage.

In the same period, Trading Standards teams across the UK, including Devon, Somerset, Suffolk, and Scotland, have issued warnings about spray foam scams targeting vulnerable homeowners.

RICS has released consumer guidance on spray foam insulation, warning that it should be seen as a significant alteration to a home requiring careful planning and not the quick fix that rogue installers market it as.

What to Do if You Were Affected by Riva Surveyors Ltd

If Riva Surveyors Ltd (or Riba Surveyors, as it was previously known) installed spray foam in your home, or if you were subjected to their sales tactics, take these steps.

• Get an independent professional assessment. Do not rely on anything Riva Surveyors told you about your property. A qualified, independent specialist can determine whether the spray foam needs to be removed, assess the condition of your roof timbers, and provide an honest report. This is essential whether you're looking to sell, remortgage, or simply want peace of mind.

• Consider professional removal. If spray foam was installed unnecessarily or is causing issues with your mortgage or property value, professional spray foam removal is typically the most effective solution. Removal restores your roof to a fully inspectable condition — the key requirement for mortgage lenders.

• Check your compensation entitlement. The court ordered Riva Surveyors Ltd to pay £31,021 in direct compensation to affected consumers. If you were a victim and have not been contacted, reach out to Suffolk Trading Standards or Citizens Advice on 0808 223 1133.

• Report it. Even if the case has been prosecuted, reporting your experience to Action Fraud and your local Trading Standards builds the evidence base and may support further compensation claims.

• Be wary of follow-up scams. Suffolk Trading Standards has specifically warned about a rise in cold callers targeting homeowners who already have spray foam, pressuring them into unnecessary removal. A legitimate removal company will never cold-call you. Always verify credentials, get multiple quotes, and never agree to work from an unsolicited contact.

How to Find a Reputable Spray Foam Removal Company

National Trading Standards and Suffolk Trading Standards both advise homeowners to use endorsed local schemes to find trustworthy contractors. These include Suffolk Trusted Trader, Norfolk Trusted Trader, and the Essex Buy With Confidence scheme, which are all endorsed by their respective Trading Standards departments.

At Remove Spray Foam, we've completed over 3,500 removals across England, Scotland, and Wales. Every removal includes a thorough assessment, safe extraction, timber and felt repair, legal waste disposal, and a completion certificate accepted by mortgage lenders. We guarantee to beat any like-for-like quote by £100, with no upfront costs and no pressure.

If you're dealing with the aftermath of a Riva Surveyors installation (or any spray foam causing you problems) get a free, no-obligation quote today.

Concerned about spray foam insulation in your property? Contact Remove Spray Foam today for honest, expert advice and a free consultation.