Energy Efficiency Standard for Social Housing: guidance for social landlords (revised December 2017)

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 reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 42% by 2020, and 80% by 2050, in line with the requirements set out in the Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009. In June 2017, the Cabinet Secretary for the Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform announced proposals to increase the 2050 target to achieve a 90% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, with new interim targets of a 56% reduction by 2020, at least 66% by 2030 and at least 78% by 2040. A new Climate Change Bill will be introduced to Parliament in 2017/18.

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. The EESSH is a crucial part of Scotland's Energy Efficiency Programme ( SEEP), 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. ^[1] 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. ^[2]

1.4 When EESSH was introduced, a review was proposed for 2017 to assess progress towards the 2020 target and to consider future milestones beyond 2020. To deliver this, the EESSH Review Group was set up in March 2017, including 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 to be delivered in two phases: phase 1 of the Review, which was completed in October 2017, 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. Phase 2 of the Review is considering milestones beyond 2020 and is currently ongoing.

1.6 This guidance brings together and revises previous guidance issued by the Scottish Government.

• Scottish Government: The Energy Efficiency Standard for Social Housing - Background and Guidance for Social Landlords ( http://www.gov.scot/Publications/2014/03/3154/4)
• Scottish Government: Guidance for Social Landlords on Temporary Exemptions in Connection with The Energy Efficiency Standard for Social Housing ( http://www.gov.scot/Publications/2014/03/5101/0)

The Scottish Housing Regulator has separately issued EESSH Technical Guidance for Landlords, and this is available on the Regulator's website.

1.7 The Review Group also proposed that an online forum should be established to keep the guidance under review. This would be useful to provide an online space for landlords to flag issues and share ideas regarding the guidance and EESSH more generally. Working papers from the Review Group will also be made available through this forum, along with any relevant analytical data to provide comparative data for landlords.