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The Existing Homes Alliance | Scotland

campaigning for the transformation of Scotland's existing housing stock

Energy efficiency regulation a “golden opportunity” to improve tenants’ lives

7 April 2017

The Existing Homes Alliance warmly welcomed a Scottish Government consultation into the establishment of minimum energy efficiency standards for those living in privately rented homes. The move could bring the private rented sector towards the standards which are required for tenants in housing association homes by 2020, and similar regulation has already been introduced in England and Wales. Figures from the most recent Scottish House Condition Survey show that 28% of properties in the private rented sector are in the three lowest energy efficiency bands as opposed to just 10% in the social sector.  See more: EXHA_PRSconsultation_7April17

Filed Under: News

10 Key Recommendations

1 The Energy Efficient Scotland Programme, the cornerstone of the National Infrastructure Priority for energy efficiency, should have a statutory underpinning, including a target for the vast majority of housing (where technically feasible and appropriate) to reach the Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) band C by 2030.

2 The introduction of new regulation and planning controls, backed by market incentives, to improve the energy efficiency of existing homes.

3 Scotland-wide area-based schemes to deliver retrofit of existing homes, neighbourhood by neighbourhood, street by street, alongside a national, demand led programme.

4 A range of financial incentives to encourage investment in energy efficiency and micro-generation.

5 New service offerings, products and packages for retrofit.

6 Better information on household energy use and its carbon emissions for consumers.

7 Better energy performance data on existing housing.

8 Reliable quality control and up-skilling on low and zero-carbon technologies.

9 A major programme to catalogue and showcase existing and ongoing exemplar low energy refurbishments.

10 Maximise use of devolved powers and influence UK policy to improve energy efficiency.

Learn more »

About us

The Existing Homes Alliance Scotland is a coalition calling for urgent action to transform Scotland's existing housing stock and make it fit for the 21st century. Too many of Scotland's homes are in a poor condition meaning unnecessarily high fuel use.

We gratefully acknowledge funding support from the William Grant Foundation.

Recent Updates

  • Alliance welcomes ambitious Heat in Buildings Strategy and call for fuel poverty budget boost to achieve goals
  • Alliance says Budget must go further to deliver a green recovery and tackle fuel poverty
  • Evidence to Scottish Parliament’s Scrutiny of the Climate Change Plan Update

Campaign Latest

Join our campaign to ensure there are no households in Scotland living in a hard-to-heat, draughty home by 2030. We urge the Scottish Government to use the once in a generation opportunity of the Energy Efficient Scotland programme and the Fuel Poverty Bill to transform Scotland’s homes for the better, put an end to fuel poverty and seize the opportunities of a low carbon future.

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