Fusion21

Successful retrofit must include more choice and support for tenants

A survey has found that over 14 per cent are worried they won’t know how to use energy-saving equipment and 17 per cent are concerned retrofit technology won’t actually work.

94 per cent of respondents had seen some energy efficiency upgrades made to their properties, althought  25 per cent received no support from their landlord post-installation.

Results from the poll of 251 social renters representing over 100 English housing associations show that social landlords are making some progress in engaging tenants around retrofit but more consultation is needed as well as further investment in tenant education.

Ten per cent of tenants reported substantial fuel bill savings but 36 per cent said they didn’t know whether their fuel bills had reduced and 25 per cent reported that savings were not noticeable to them.

Over two thirds of respondents were either satisified or happy with the level of support they received from their landlord once retrofit upgrades were installed and over thirty respondents received a home demonstration and eight tenants received more than one home visit.

46 per cent of tenants felt their concerns around retrofit works were well considered or very well considered by their social landlord, 13 per cent felt their views about energy saving measures for their home were either ignored or only partly considered.

Fusion21, Procurement for Housing, TPAS (Tenant Participation Advisory Service) and the University of Salford spoke to 251 social renters to better understand tenant behaviour and motivations around energy saving. Results will be used to maximise the impact of future retrofit improvements.

Only 4.9 per cent of tenants accepted energy efficiency measures because of their concerns about climate change. The key driver was a reduction in fuel bills with 23 per cent of tenants citing this as the reason for their uptake of retrofit installations.

Dave Neilson, Chief Executive at Fusion21 said: “Social landlords need to do more to involve tenants in the retrofit decision making process. Traditional forms of support are offered to residents after properties are retrofitted but there’s little innovative practice. The sector needs to develop low cost, effective methods of retrofit support and communication for residents. The next stage of this survey is to find out more about what works and what doesn’t when providers consult and communicate with tenants around carbon reduction.”

Michelle Reid, TPAS Chief Executive said: “In these difficult times anything that helps to cut energy bills for tenants and make homes more energy efficient should be welcomed. Upgrading the quality of people’s homes is important and we support the need for a programme of energy efficiency to be rolled out across social housing.”

Steve Malone, MD of Procurement for Housing said: “Under the forthcoming Green Deal, social renters may perceive they are ‘paying’ for the installation of energy efficiency so we need to understand what motivates people to accept and use retrofit technology. Tenants play a vital role in ensuring retrofit works. Improvements won’t make the target savings on their own and this research shows that the sector must work harder to link behaviour change and fuel bill savings.”