Warm Homes Plan 2026: What It Means for Social Housing Providers

In January 2026, the UK Government announced the £15 billion Warm Homes Plan, the largest public investment in home upgrades in British history. Led by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, the programme places social housing at the heart of the national retrofit strategy (UK Government, January 2026).

The plan aims to reduce energy bills, tackle fuel poverty, and improve the quality of homes across the UK, with a strong focus on upgrading social housing stock at scale.

A Major Opportunity for Social Housing Retrofit

Under the Warm Homes Plan, the government will support upgrades to up to five million homes by 2030, with the ambition to lift up to one million households out of fuel poverty. Social housing residents are a priority group, with funding designed to support whole-street and neighbourhood-wide upgrades, improving outcomes for residents while enabling more efficient delivery.

For social housing providers, this creates an opportunity to:

• Improve the thermal performance and comfort of homes

• Reduce tenant energy bills and fuel poverty

• Address long-standing issues such as cold, damp, and mould

• Progress decarbonisation and net zero commitments

Fully Funded Support for Low-Income Households

A significant portion of the funding £5 billion is allocated to direct support for low-income households. For many social housing tenants, this could mean fully funded retrofit packages, tailored to the needs of each home.

Supported measures include:

• Insulation (wall, roof, floor, and draught-proofing)

• Heat pumps (air source, ground source, and air-to-air)

• Solar panels and battery storage

• Smart heating controls

This whole-house approach supports long-term energy savings rather than short-term fixes.

Area-Based Delivery and Neighbourhood Upgrades

The Warm Homes Plan encourages area-based retrofit delivery, enabling social landlords to upgrade multiple homes simultaneously. This approach:

• Reduces disruption for residents

• Improves consistency across housing stock

• Delivers better value for money

• Creates warmer, healthier neighbourhoods

Local and regional leaders will play a central role in delivery, with housing providers working closely with local authorities and delivery partners.

Stronger Expectations for Rented Homes

The government has reinforced the principle that all rented homes, including social housing - must be safe, warm, and affordable to run. New and updated standards are intended to drive improvements across the sector, ensuring tenants are protected from poor living conditions and high energy costs.

By the end of the decade, these measures are expected to lift hundreds of thousands of rented households out of fuel poverty, while improving housing quality nationwide.

Skills, Delivery and Long-Term Planning

To support delivery at scale, the government will establish a new Warm Homes Agency, simplifying access to funding and improving coordination across retrofit schemes. The programme is also expected to support up to 180,000 skilled jobs in energy efficiency and clean heating by 2030.

For social housing providers, early planning will be essential, including stock assessment, resident engagement, and phased retrofit strategies, to maximise the benefits of the programme.

Looking Ahead

The Warm Homes Plan represents a long-term commitment to improving the UK’s housing stock. For social housing providers, it offers a clear framework and substantial investment to deliver warmer, healthier, and more affordable homes, while meeting future energy efficiency and decarbonisation targets.

Source: UK Government, Department for Energy Security and Net Zero – Warm Homes Plan press release, published 20 January 2026.