Energy efficiency in social housing: guidance for landlords - revised 2020

1 Purpose and Background

1.1 The Energy Efficiency Standard for Social Housing (EESSH) aims to encourage landlords to improve the energy efficiency of social housing in Scotland. This supports the Scottish Government's vision of warm, high quality, affordable, low carbon homes and a housing sector that helps to establish a successful low carbon economy across Scotland.

1.2 The EESSH will contribute to the requirements of the Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2019, which sets targets to reduce Scotland's emissions of all greenhouse gases to net-zero by 2045 at the latest, with interim targets for reductions of at least 56% by 2020, 75% by 2030, and 90% by 2040.^[1]

1.3 The EESSH was introduced in March 2014 and set a first milestone for social landlords to meet for social rented homes by 31 December 2020. A second milestone was confirmed in June 2019, for social rented housing to meet by December 2032.

1.3a The EESSH is a crucial part of Energy Efficient Scotland, which is the cornerstone of delivering the Scottish Government's designation of energy efficiency as a National Infrastructure Priority, and sets out a 15-20 year programme that will significantly improve the energy efficiency and greenhouse gas emissions of our homes and buildings. ^[2] The EESSH should also be considered within the wider context of our Energy Strategy, which looks at meeting the country's energy needs over the next 20-50 years.^[3]

1.4 The EESSH was reviewed in 2017-2018.The EESSH Review Group included representatives from: Scottish Government; Local Authorities; Registered Social Landlords; Historic Environment Scotland; the Scottish Federation of Housing Associations; the Glasgow and West of Scotland Forum of Housing Associations; the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities; and the Scottish Housing Regulator.

1.5 The Review was delivered in two phases: phase 1 of the Review assessed progress towards the 2020 target. One of the actions agreed by the Review Group was that the guidance for landlords should be consolidated and revised.

1.5a Phase 2 of the Review considered EESSH milestones and activity post-2020. Informed by consultation responses, the EESSH Review Group considered proposals and agreed a new EESSH2 milestone for 2032.^[4]

1.6 This guidance brings together and revises previous guidance issued by the Scottish Government. The Scottish Housing Regulator has separately issued EESSH Technical Guidance for Landlords, and this is available on the Regulator's website.^[5]

1.7 The Scottish Government has set up an online EESSH forum through Knowledge Hub to flag issues and share ideas regarding the guidance and EESSH more generally.^[6] This forum is open to any social landlord, and can be joined on application through the Scottish Government or via the Knowledge Hub website.