DECARBONISING FOR HOUSING ASSOCIATIONS/SOCIAL HOUSING
the performance of individual properties as well the wider housing stock, they can develop targeted retrofit programmes that align with both asset management objectives and long- term decarbonisation strategies.
COLLATING THE DATA Gathering data is not always straightforward.
WHY ACCURATE DATA IS KEY TO OBTAINING SUCCESSFUL RETROFIT FUNDING
Local authorities and housing associations are facing
growing pressure to improve energy efficiency, reduce fuel poverty and decarbonise their housing stock. Chris Woods, client development manager at IRT Surveys, part of the
Mears Group, explains why accurate and informed housing data is vital in helping social landlords access funding from the government’s £15 billion Warm Homes Plan
R
ising energy costs, net zero targets and the impact of poor housing
conditions on tenant health mean local authorities and housing associations are facing increased pressure to retrofit their housing stock. Recent government figures show that 2.36 million households are currently in fuel poverty. At the same time, a report by the Building Research Establishment found that the NHS spends almost £900 million a year treating illnesses linked to housing defects that subject residents to excess cold and damp. While making social homes healthier,
greener and more energy efficient is a national priority, it is an ambitious task that comes with a hefty price tag. The estimated cost of retrofitting the UK’s social housing stock to the Minimum Energy Efficiency Standard is £16 billion. To achieve net zero, that figure would rise to £104 billion. Currently, a quarter of social homes, 1.1 million, fall below EPC Band C.
WARM HOMES PLAN The government’s Warm Homes Plan presents
local authorities and housing associations with a significant opportunity to support their ambitions to deliver much-needed improvements to their housing stock. However, with just £3.2 billion of the low-income funding pot being shared across both social housing and private street-level grants, competition will be tough. The new scheme means local authorities and
www.essmag.co.uk
Housing providers often hold data across multiple systems and formats, with varying levels of detail and accuracy. Valuable insights can come from a range of sources, including thermal imaging surveys, EPC information, stock condition data, asset management system integrations and other property datasets. Bringing these together into a single, reliable view is essential for effective decision-making. Specialist modelling software, such as DREam,
can combine and analyse these multiple data sources to create a single view of housing performance, enabling social landlords to identify where individual measures will deliver the greatest benefit and where investment should be targeted across the wider portfolio to maximise both funding opportunities and long-term value. As a result, local authorities and housing
associations can begin to plan their retrofit projects, with precise costings and using the most appropriate and efficient measures. Crucially, they will also be able to ensure their projects meet the Warm Homes funding requirements. Advanced modelling software continues to play a
key role once projects are underway. By monitoring the progress of the installation rollout and the energy-saving improvements, they help keep projects on track and cost- effective, while also providing evidence that targets have been met.
TURNING DATA INTO ACTION Social housing providers are responsible
for decarbonising a significant proportion of the UK’s housing stock. The value of data in addressing this monumental and challenging task, especially at scale and pace, should not be underestimated. For those wishing to obtain Warm Homes Plan funding for their energy-efficiency retrofit projects, acquiring accurate and informed housing stock data is even more vital. When all available data is combined and analysed using advanced software,
housing associations no longer need to compete to win grants. However, with funding now based on local need and the preparedness to deliver, the competition will be one of evidence and speed. It is those with accurate and informed housing data and with retrofit teams already in place that will receive funding first.
THE IMPORTANCE OF DATA With the funding framework focused on the
needs of neighbourhoods rather than individual properties, social housing providers will need to gather significant data. Data can provide far more than evidence for funding applications. It gives housing providers a comprehensive picture of their portfolio, where improvements are needed and how investment can be prioritised. By understanding
local authorities and housing associations gain a complete understanding of their housing portfolio. These insights not only strengthen funding applications but also enable informed asset management decisions, targeted retrofit interventions and long-term decarbonisation programmes. Ultimately, better data
leads to better investment decisions, helping deliver healthier, more energy- efficient homes for tenants while maximising the impact of available funding.
IRT Surveys
https://irtsurveys.co.uk/
ENERGY & SUSTAINABILITY SOLUTIONS - Autumn 2026 Chris Woods 31
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