New research highlights the extent of retrofit work required in the social housing sector
New tenant opinion data collected by law firm Shakespeare Martineau, as part of its Retrofit: engaging the hearts and minds of tenants white paper, is thought to be the largest survey of its kind to garner the attitudes and opinions of tenants about retrofitting their homes.
The research highlighted the needs and concerns of tenants and also highlighted the need for more joined up thinking in funding retrofit programmes as well as warning that, without a more holistic climate view, some of the most energy-efficient homes today, could be over-heating in the future.
The results showed that less than half of tenants (46%) reported having had any energy saving technology – from loft insulation, to new windows - installed in their homes in the past two years, despite 86% wanting to be more involved in the process of making their home more energy efficient.
According to the data, the younger the tenant is, the more likely they are to have had any retrofitting, likewise, younger tenants are also more likely to have requested the installation of energy saving technology, showing proactivity by tenants pays off.
Undertaking retrofit projects is a significant challenge for the social housing sector, which owns 4.4 million properties across the UK, many of which are classed as ageing housing stock.
Louise Drew, head of building communities at law firm Shakespeare Martineau and lead author of the report, said:
“All homes - social housing or conventional - need to become more ‘green’, and given the tight deadline of 2050, it is concerning to see over half of social housing tenants not getting the improvements they need. However, this isn’t down to unwillingness by RPs - they are as keen as their tenants to see the work done. This is down to a host of wider issues around how funding is accessed, the timescales allowed to utilise grant funding, the skills gap and the technology gap.”
The paper highlights a mismatch between what tenants want, versus what tenants are receiving. The data showed the greatest demand was for new doors and windows, solar panels and heating systems. However, tenants are more likely to report that they’ve received new heating systems and loft insulation, with solar panels the least likely to have been installed.
Louise continues:
“The mismatch is likely due to tenants wanting technology and products that are ‘visual’ over fabric-first that’s ‘hidden’ in lofts and walls. We’re still a long way from ensuring the benefits of these ‘behind the scenes’ improvements are fully understood by tenants, a job for the sector as a whole.”
There were several concerns raised by tenants about the retrofit process, namely around timescales, hassle and communication, with those aged over 55 most likely to raise concerns about understanding the process, works and technology.
This lack of understanding is consistent with a lack of knowledge or information: on average 64% of people either did not know or were not sure about the options available to them for having their home retrofitted. This figure jumped significantly for people aged 55+ to 84%.
From the point of view of the sector, one of the greatest issues is funding, with experts calling for a more joined up approach.
Separate research the firm says has shown that substandard housing is costing the NHS £1.4 billion a year, from slips, trips, falls as well as issues from drafts, damp and poor insulation.
Joanna Lee-Mills, head of social housing development at Shakespeare Martineau, said:
“A good home creates savings elsewhere – and given the NHS is seeing immense pressure, why aren’t we connecting the dots?
“If we started recording what mattered, such as data that demonstrates the benefits high-quality homes have on health and wellbeing, including a consistency in temperature and accessibility, then the government could introduce pay-backs for providers who can demonstrate health improvements through housing, which can be reinvested back into the housing stock and community.”
Louise Drew added:
“Social housing providers and their tenants are often the test beds for the latest initiatives and technology. Funding and unrealistic timescales for delivering schemes through the grants that are provided remain a test, but providers are rising to the challenge.
“However, activity remains reactive. And without a carrot for housing providers, we won’t see change towards more proactivity. “
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