Increased funding to decarbonise homes is welcome and must be maintained to meet climate change ambitions

The Scottish Federation of Housing Associations (SFHA) has responded to the Heat in Buildings Strategy published today (Thursday 7 October) by the Scottish Government. SFHA said it welcomed the government’s commitment to a just transition to net zero emissions housing, ensuring those who are most vulnerable are protected against any cost increases such as higher energy bills.

SFHA Chief Executive Sally Thomas said: “Today’s announcement is an important next step from the Scottish Government in addressing climate change and fuel poverty. We are particularly pleased that the government has committed to delivering a just transition to net zero emissions housing. This was one of the key recommendations of the Zero Emissions Social Housing Taskforce (ZEST) which SFHA co-chaired. With over a third of social housing tenants living in fuel poverty, and energy bills already spiralling, this commitment is absolutely fundamental – our efforts to tackle climate change must not leave any tenant with energy bills they can’t afford.

“Heat from buildings accounts for around 20% of Scotland’s greenhouse gas emissions, so housing has an essential role to play in tackling the climate emergency. We particularly welcome the doubling of the five-year Social Housing Net Zero Heat Fund. Alongside this, we would like to see a further longer term and non-competitive fund to help spread investment strategically across the country, delivering improvements at the scale required, without a negative impact on rent affordability.

“We acknowledge that the ZEST recommendations are still being reviewed, and we look forward to working with the Scottish Government, and other partners, in order to implement its full recommendations, allowing us to meet Scotland’s climate change targets and end fuel poverty.”