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Social landlords urged to collaborate to communicate net zero strategy to residents
The social housing sector must work collaboratively to communicate their net zero ambitions to residents, a new report by PlaceShapers and Tpas has found.
Based on focus groups with more than 100 residents and key sector sustainability experts, the report made a number of recommendations to social landlords on how they can best work with residents and communities as they work to retrofit homes to meet net zero standards.
A key finding is that the social housing sector should work together to develop communications advice for landlords, including the development of tried and trusted messaging that landlords can use.
This should include developing a bank of case study examples of people who have had positive experiences of retrofit, as well as drafting a high-level roadmap that individual landlords can adapt and use, and that shows how the sector will meet the government’s 2050 net zero target.
In addition, the report said there are a number of practical, immediate steps that social landlords can consider now, for example demonstrating a commitment to the net zero agenda by investing in more green space, sustainable vehicle fleets and low-carbon office spaces.
Landlords are also urged to commit to whole-house retrofits where possible as the residents who participated in the focus groups showed a “clear desire” for this approach.
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At the same time, social landlords should look to hire resident engagement experts to talk about the new technologies, while making sure all staff members have knowledge of green technology to respond to residents’ questions and concerns.
In addition to the recommendations for social landlords, the report suggests that the government launches an information and awareness campaign to provide context for social landlords’ work.
Engaging with residents over retrofit work will be more difficult unless they can see how the work fits into the country’s wider net zero ambitions, the report said.
It suggested that the UN Climate Change Conference that is to be held in Glasgow later this year is an ideal opportunity for the government to launch a campaign around the net zero target and the role people and places play in meeting it.
Jenny Osbourne, chief executive at Tpas, who chaired the resident sessions, said: “It was great to hear what sector stakeholders thought and their experiences and then compare to what we heard at the resident sessions.
“We heard similar views but many other thoughts that were completely different, which really made us think. Each session was packed full of questions and insights from residents about green homes and sustainability more broadly, but there were still loads of questions to answer.”
Jonathan Higgs, chief executive of Raven Housing Trust and board member at PlaceShapers, said: “Throughout this year, we’ve been speaking to PlaceShapers members about their key priorities and areas of work. Meeting the net zero target has been mentioned by everyone.
“But while lots of thought is being given to business planning, and the new technology we need, we felt there wasn’t enough focus on the impact on people and places. This report shows the zero carbon agenda can connect with what residents value, and a long-term plan for engagement offers opportunities to build on the strong foundations of trust that already exist between many social landlords and their residents.”
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