Accelerating the awarding of the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund:

Improving the sustainability of the homes we provide, and cutting costs for residents of heating and powering their homes, is a critical priority for all G15 members. When gas and electricity bills are taken together, those living in the least energy efficient homes will pay almost £2,000 extra per year compared to EPC C rated homes. Combined with the impact of increased carbon emissions from less energy efficient homes, these figures demonstrate the importance of continued investment in improving the energy efficiency of existing homes.

We welcome the government’s commitment to achieving Net Zero by 2050. G15 members are already making good progress in improving the energy efficiency of the homes we provide. Around 71% of G15 members’ existing homes already meet EPC C, as we work towards all general needs homes meeting this level by 2030. However, to meet net zero across the homes we provide, significant further investment will be required, with G15 members currently estimating costs of between £10bn-£11bn. The National Housing Federation has also found that around 5% of all social homes will cost more than £20,000 each to decarbonise, with many of these homes being older properties in London.

The Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund (SHDF) is an extremely welcome programme, and G15 members have applied to both initial waves of funding. However, to make further progress at the scale required, the remainder of the £3.8bn earmarked of the SHDF should be brought forward. This would support the sector to make faster progress on cutting residents’ bills and the emissions from homes, which in turn would both support improving conditions in homes more generally.

The government can:

• Bring forward the full £3.8bn earmarked for the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund.