Making Homes Warmer, Greener and More Energy Efficient
We are continuing to improve the energy efficiency of our homes, helping residents enjoy warmer, more comfortable properties, lower energy use and support a lower-carbon future.
Through our energy efficiency programme, we are improving homes with an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating below C, with the aim of bringing them up to EPC C where possible.
These homes are selected based on their current EPC rating and property information, so residents do not need to apply. Once a home is identified as potentially suitable, our Sustainability Team arranges a Retrofit Assessment.
If a home is confirmed as eligible, a resident will receive a letter from us and our delivery partner, WCL, explaining the free improvements available and what happens next.
What improvements are being made?
Every home is different, so the improvements we install will depend on the property's existing heating system, its features and the needs of the household.
Improvements may include:
- Air Source Heat Pumps
- High Heat Retention Storage Heaters
- Loft Insulation
- Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Panels
- Battery Storage Systems
- Hot Water Diverters, helping residents make better use of electricity generated by their solar panels
Improving homes across our communities
The programme began by focusing on homes with the least efficient heating systems, including properties that use LPG (Liquefied Petroleum Gas), oil and other off-gas heating systems, where improvements could make the biggest difference.
Through the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund (SHDF) Wave 2.1 programme, delivered with United Living, we improved 307 homes.
We are now delivering the Warm Homes: Social Housing Fund (WH:SHF) Wave 3 programme with WCL. During 2025/26, works were completed to 150 homes, and we plan to improve 650 more homes by 2028/29, meaning 800 homes will benefit from the programme overall.
What residents can expect
The time needed to complete improvement works depends on the measures being installed. Solar PV and battery installations are usually installed in a couple of days, while heating upgrades typically take a week. External Wall Insulation projects can take several weeks to complete.
We work closely with residents throughout the process to minimise disruption. Following installation, residents receive guidance from the installers, as well as support from WCL and our Sustainability Team, to help them get the most from their new systems.
Benefits for residents
Residents have told us their homes feel warmer, more comfortable and easier to manage following the improvement work.
One resident who received an air source heat pump and solar panels said:
“We would like to thank Fairhive for the installation of the Air Source Heat Pump heating system with Solar Panels, which have saved us around £500 in the first year of operation. The system is quiet, unobtrusive and if used as directed, provides plenty of hot water and a warm home during the winter.”
By improving the energy efficiency of our homes, we are helping create warmer properties, reduce energy consumption and support a more sustainable future for our communities.
More information about the project can be found on our Warm Improvements page.
