Funding schemes are available for housing associations to improve the energy efficiency of their 280,000-strong housing stock through retrofit measures such as double glazing, draught-proofing, and insulation, but many say issues accessing government funding are setting them up to fail.

They cite financial constraints, the cost-match funding required on their part, last-minute approvals, and the extensive administration work involved in preparing an application as key barriers.

With no guarantee of getting the funding, many also say they find themselves unable to roll the dice to make a bid.

CIOB says unless the Government acts quickly, far too many social housing tenants will continue living in cold, draughty homes. 

Jocelyne Fleming, policy and public affairs officer for Scotland at CIOB, explained: “Clearly, the current system available to Scotland’s housing associations to access retrofit funding is not fit for purpose.”

CIOB is now calling for the Government to form a ministerial oversight group on retrofit to bring ministers with responsibility for housing, net zero buildings, skills & education, and planning together to develop a National Retrofit Delivery Plan.

It says such a plan must consider the resources – both financial and human – that will be needed to bring Scotland’s housing stock up to the standards required to achieve housing, decarbonisation, and fuel poverty targets. 

The oversight group could take responsibility for much-needed mapping of existing housing stock and, together with social landlords, triage homes and identify priority areas for funding and intervention – helping to systematically and strategically allocate funding to ensure public money is used in the most effective and efficient way.

In a recent survey commissioned by CIOB, 38 per cent of social housing tenants said they have not heard of any energy efficiency support schemes.

The research also showed that lower energy bills are the biggest driver behind social housing tenants wanting energy efficiency upgrades to their homes.