The UK’s housing stock is arguably the oldest and most inefficient in Europe. However, 80% of the housing we will need by 2050 already exists. This means that a retrofit revolution must be undertaken if the 2050 net zero carbon target is to be hit, and many housing professionals have been left scratching their heads.
In the social and private rent sector, margins are already squeezed hard, and many professionals are not sure how they will benefit from upgrading their stock. In recent research carried out by Housing Management & Maintenance, we looked to find out exactly how big this challenge was for them, the barriers and benefits they see, and their awareness of both their own stock and its performance, and their available resources.
Our survey of 82 housing professionals (covering an average of 1410 units managed), shows some positives on current progress, considering the high average age of stock. However it also shows that residents are enduring antiquated efficiency measures that need urgently addressing.