Research and analysis
Social housing decarbonisation study: views from social housing providers
Findings from a study to explore providers’ attitudes to improved energy performance, barriers to implementing new measures, and funding.
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In November 2020, BEIS commissioned IFF Research to conduct research with social housing providers to develop understanding of their ambition for energy performance retrofit, current plans for carrying out retrofit on their stock, the current state of retrofit and key issues associated with working with tenants and leaseholders in mixed-tenure stock. The project took place between November 2020 and May 2021. Primary research data was collected through semi-structured interviews with 39 providers and a survey with 449 providers.
The research found:
- energy efficiency improvements are not often the primary motivator for improving stock, but many providers are seeking to improve energy performance in the future
- social housing tenants do not generally refuse to allow retrofit work in their homes - 52% of social housing providers report tenants never refuse work
- greater effort is required by social housing providers to sufficiently engage with future challenges of retrofitting mixed-tenure housing stock, that is buildings containing both social rented and privately-owned dwellings. Half (49%) of providers who have carried out energy performance improvement work on their stock included mixed-tenure units
- the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund is perceived positively: 78% of providers were likely to apply, of which 90% would seek assistance from the Technical Assistance Facility (TAF)