Housing associations (HAs) are an integral piece of Scotland’s housing system. Firmly placed at the centre of Scotland’s climate, housing, and fuel poverty crises, HAs must be supported in undertaking the widescale retrofit projects necessary to improve and maintain the quality and energy efficiency of their stock, and in so doing, protect the affordability and comfort of their tenants, many of whom represent Scotland’s most vulnerable households.  This research was conducted in collaboration with HAs to identify current barriers to the widespread uptake of retrofit projects within the social housing sector and to identify how to overcome these barriers. 

Based on the findings of this research, Scottish Government needs to make urgent revisions to energy efficiency funding programmes, extending far greater trust to HAs to directly access funding with the flexibility and autonomy needed to put these funds to use effectively and efficiently and to the greatest benefits of their tenants and the wider environment.