Investigation of the key barriers of energy efficiency retrofitting UK social houses

The UK has committed to reaching net zero carbon emissions by 2050, however, it has the oldest housing stock in Europe, which contributes to about 45% of the country's carbon emissions. To achieve this target, energy efficiency retrofitting is necessary. This measure has to be particularly considered for social houses, as the tenants are not able to afford retrofitting themselves, and the landlords are not incentivised to invest in retrofitting. Social houses need a very different approach, compared to the rest of the UK’s housing stock, because of the peculiarity of their tenants, their age and poor-quality materials they were built with. The study proposes several strategies to address the identified barriers, including the implementation of an effective funding scheme covering a minimum cost of £47,500 per house, with the government providing at least 70-80% of the total cost and the remaining 20-30% integrated by social landlords. Additionally, regulations should be in place to ensure funding accessibility and proper coordination of contractors. The study also emphasizes the importance of monitoring the performance of social houses before retrofitting and optimizing their energy management through education and smart meters. By implementing these strategies, social tenants can benefit from lower energy bills, improved thermal comfort, and reduced fuel poverty rates, while also contributing to the decarbonization of the housing sector towards the net-zero target.