Social housing tenants are still suffering from a persistent cost of living crisis, with energy prices remaining high, while rent rises, and transitions to new support mechanisms proving hard to manage. 11% of households are classified as being in ‘fuel poverty’; shockingly some tenants still have to choose between ‘heating or eating.’ Powered by the Warm Homes Plan and a £13.2bn commitment to fund it from the Government, housing providers are deploying a wide range of solutions to reduce energy use, from fabric and heating upgrades to harnessing tech to monitor energy use with tenant buy-in to help them avoid the risk of falling fuel poverty. Our round table will investigate current thinking and practice within the social housing sector and across the construction industry, sharing knowledge to help grow best practice.
The Decent Homes Standard has been exhumed, including a new Minimum Energy Efficiency Standard but the CIH has called for clarity and consistency in how these sit alongside existing regulations, such as Awaab’s Law. Is this emerging, or is duplication rife? Are cost estimates around upgrades unrealistically low, and what is being done to resolve this if so? And will focus need to come away from new homes if we are to really prioritise retrofit?
Is the ‘fabric versus renewables’ debate a false dichotomy, i.e. do most approaches need to involve both, in experience to date? Where are providers choosing to embrace full-blown internal wall insulation, and when is external the only option? What are the pinchpoints for residents and providers in providing lower bills (such as changing lifestyles, or finding suppliers). Also, EPCs are currently being reformulated, so how can and will this help?
A range of tech is being harnessed to help social housing tenants from sensors and automated controls, to smart meters and smart prepay, to save energy without compromising living standards. We will discover how providers are working with suppliers to support tenants’ energy needs in real time, and reduce waste and bills. Other innovations such as flexible tariffs, grants and energy-efficient appliances and design solutions will be discussed, as well as the key questions around how to work respectfully and proactively with tenants.