A new social housing industry survey has highlighted growing concerns that tenants refusing retrofit improvements could put carbon reduction targets at risk.
The report, Holistic Approaches to Low Carbon Retrofit at Scale, sponsored by Eurocell, surveyed housing associations, local authorities and social housing organisations to identify the key barriers facing retrofit programmes. According to the findings, tenants refusing improvements has become the fourth most significant obstacle, behind cost pressures, ageing housing stock and shortages in external skills.
The survey found that tenant refusals have risen sharply in importance since 2024, while lack of resident education has also become a growing issue. Housing providers identified disruption to residents, temporary relocation requirements and concerns over room space as major reasons behind resistance to whole-house retrofit projects.
The report also highlighted communication challenges across the sector. According to the findings, 37% of respondents said the term “retrofit” is confusing for tenants, while 17% admitted they had no formal engagement process with residents regarding improvement works. Demonstrations and workshops were used by only 16% of organisations surveyed.
Gary Doxey, Commercial Manager at Eurocell, said: “Overcoming these tenant blocks is critical given the pressing national timeline.
“The target of EPC ‘C’ remains for all privately rented and local-authority run homes by 2030, which will mean that the intensity of retrofits and upgrades is going to need to significantly increase to deliver the scale required.”
The report concludes that improved communication with tenants will be essential if housing providers are to deliver large-scale retrofit programmes successfully and meet future energy efficiency targets.
