Greener Homes, Greater Challenges: Sustainability in Social Housing

Sustainability in social housing is no longer a future ambition — it’s a current necessity. With the UK committed to reaching net zero by 2050, housing providers are under growing pressure to reduce carbon emissions, improve energy performance, and deliver homes that are not only affordable, but also environmentally responsible.

That’s a big ask, especially when you’re dealing with constrained budgets, older stock, and competing operational demands. But it’s also an opportunity to reimagine how homes are managed, maintained, and improved with long-term sustainability in mind.

The push to meet EPC targets and cut carbon

Government targets require all social housing to reach an EPC rating of C or above by 2030. That’s a significant benchmark, and many providers are still a long way off. According to the English Housing Survey, around 1.2 million social homes in England fall below that standard.

Funding schemes like the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund are helping to close the gap, with over £1.8 billion allocated so far. These funds are supporting critical improvements, from insulation upgrades to low-carbon heating, but applying for funding and delivering retrofit programmes at scale remains a challenge, especially when internal resources are stretched.

Retrofitting homes: necessary, but far from simple

Making older homes more energy-efficient isn’t just a matter of switching out boilers or adding solar panels. It involves working within the constraints of buildings that were never designed with sustainability in mind, often while tenants remain in place. Deep retrofits can cost upwards of £20,000 per property, and even lighter-touch improvements add up quickly across large portfolios.

Add to that the shortage of qualified contractors, ongoing supply chain pressures, and the challenge of coordinating multiple teams. It quickly becomes clear that meeting environmental targets takes more than just ambition. It demands careful planning, strong leadership, and a willingness to trial new approaches and adapt.

Still, many housing organisations are finding ways forward. Some are prioritising the worst-performing properties first. Others are piloting retrofit programmes in small batches to refine their approach before scaling up. This kind of staged, data-informed decision-making is helping providers move the needle without taking on unmanageable risk.

Why collaboration and digital tools are part of the solution

One thing is clear: sustainability in social housing is a team effort. Providers who are making real progress tend to be the ones working in close partnership — with other landlords, local authorities, technology partners, and suppliers. Collaborations help unlock funding, share learning, and pool procurement power, all of which are vital in the current climate.

Digital tools are also starting to play a bigger role. Whether it’s using data to target energy upgrades more effectively, tracking carbon savings, or reducing energy waste in void properties, technology is helping teams work more efficiently and make better-informed decisions.

Platforms like Viewport are also playing a growing role in advancing sustainability in social housing. Designed specifically for the built environment, Viewport helps housing providers monitor energy usage, track carbon emissions, and align operations with ESG and net-zero goals. By bringing together real-time data from across a portfolio, including smart meters and environmental sensors, it enables more informed decision-making, supports fuel poverty reduction, and helps create healthier, more energy-efficient homes.

That’s not to say the answers are easy, but by using data to drive action, and working together across the sector, there’s real potential to accelerate change.

Let’s keep the conversation going

Events like Housing 2025 are more than just dates in the calendar – they’re an opportunity for the sector to come together, share ideas, and explore what’s possible.

We’ll be at Stand E27 and we’d love to hear how you’re approaching sustainability, what’s working well, and where the pressure points still lie. You can also learn more about what we do here — particularly how we’re helping providers streamline operational processes during voids.

Let’s talk about how we make progress — together.