Improving the Energy Efficiency of Socially Rented Homes in England

Foreword by Matthew Pennycook MP, Minister for Housing and Planning, and Miatta Fahnbulleh MP, Minister for Energy Consumers

Everyone deserves the security and comfort of a safe, decent and warm home. Yet far too many social rented homes fall short of this basic standard, leaving tenants living in substandard conditions and struggling to pay their energy bills. This is an intolerable state of affairs and we intend to put it right.

Alongside our commitment to delivering the biggest increase in social and affordable housebuilding in a generation, this government is determined to drive a transformational and lasting change in the safety and quality of social housing and to upgrade millions of homes through the Warm Homes Plan to cut bills and tackle fuel poverty. These are complementary objectives, and we are working in lockstep to deliver them.

When it comes to improving the energy efficiency of social housing stock, we recognise that significant progress has been made over recent years. However, we must do more to drive up standards so that all tenants enjoy a safe, decent and warm home.

The reforms set out in this consultation are crucial to achieving that aim. They introduce, for the first time, new Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards to the social rented sector (SRS)– a vital step towards making sure every tenant living in social housing can expect a minimum standard of decency.

These proposals build on those we consulted on earlier this year in relation to improving energy performance in the private rented sector (PRS). Our departments have worked in partnership to ensure we are driving complementary improvements across the SRS and PRS, while recognising the unique needs of each sector.

We appreciate fully that landlords need certainty about the standards and requirements they are expected to meet. That is why we are consulting on these changes at the same time as providing clarity on long term funding support and future regulation on quality and safety.

The new Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards will become part of the Decent Homes Standard (DHS) which is also being reviewed through a consultation so that it better meets the needs of today’s tenants and landlords.  

We invite tenants, landlords and others to share their views on our proposals, with suggestions for improvements, and how they can be made. By working together – MHCLG, DESNZ and the sector overall – we can make homes warmer, improve the lives of hard-working people and families, and build a brighter, more sustainable future for generations to come.