Social housing is under pressure from all angles—budget squeezes, carbon targets, rising fuel poverty, and tenants who deserve better. Yet in many organisations, retrofit still sits in its own silo, disconnected from the day-to-day work of maintaining and repairing homes. That’s a huge, missed opportunity. Because the moment a home needs repairs - that’s exactly the time to do to consider retrofit.
Let’s break it down.
1. Why keep disrupting tenants twice (three times...more)?
Every repair job is a disruption. Now imagine if, instead of sending contractors in twice - once to fix a damp issue, and then again six months later to install insulation - we did it all in one go. The same scaffold, the same access, the same crew. Less hassle, fewer complaints, and more trust built with tenants who feel we’ve got their long-term comfort in mind.
2. It won't just save time - it will save money
You already have budgets for repairs and maintenance. You already have contractors on site. So why not make every pound do more? When you align retrofit with planned works, you save on mobilisation, access, and admin. You reduce the carbon cost of repeat visits. And you get more value out of every pound - without having to constantly chase separate funding streams.
These savings can be identified in advance with Cotality's software.
3. One plan = better, sooner
Most organisations already know their stock condition, and many have retrofit assessments. But when those sit in different systems—or worse, different teams—opportunities get missed. Bringing retrofit into your asset strategy doesn’t mean reinventing the wheel. It means being smarter with the wheels already turning.
There are thousands of homes where new windows, doors, heating systems, or insulation are on the cards. If we act with foresight, these aren't just repair jobs—they’re the perfect moment to future-proof homes for decades.
4. Deliver carbon and fuel poverty goals faster
Retrofit isn’t just about ticking off EPC targets. It’s about delivering homes that are warmer, healthier, and cheaper to run—the kind of homes we’d want our own families living in. Aligning retrofit with repairs helps you move at scale, making visible progress on net zero, while directly cutting bills for tenants.
And let’s be honest: with fuel prices still unpredictable and many households struggling, every intervention counts.
Let's make this the new normal
Easier said than done? Not any more.
We’re at a moment where the housing sector must lead with confidence. The policy is moving. The funding is catching up. But more than that, landlords already hold the keys. The scaffolds are going up. The boilers are being replaced. Let’s seize these moments—not just to patch, but to improve. We calculate and show these opportunities for all programmes, at once.
By embedding retrofit into your repairs and maintenance planning, you don’t just save money. You build better homes, strengthen trust, and lead the charge toward a fairer, greener future.
Let’s stop missing the obvious - and start delivering what's necessary.
