LivGreen recently hosted a comprehensive webinar dedicated to helping social landlords navigate the opportunities presented by the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund (SHDF) Wave 3, also known as the Warm Homes initiative. This fund is a critical tool in advancing the UK’s 2050 net-zero targets and is tailored to support landlords in making much-needed energy efficiency improvements across social housing properties.
Our expert panel, including Stephen Sharman from CHIC, Kate Watson from RISE, and Hamza from LivGreen, tackled a variety of questions about navigating funding requirements, overcoming procurement challenges, and implementing effective decarbonisation strategies. Whether addressing the practicalities of retrofitting listed buildings or developing resident engagement strategies, the session provided social landlords with clear, actionable guidance for moving forward.
The following Q&A captures some of the most insightful discussions from our webinar, offering a helpful guide for anyone involved in the social housing sector who is looking to make the most of the SHDF Wave 3 funding opportunity. Dive in to learn more about how you can support affordable warmth, enhance tenant comfort, and contribute to a greener future.
Read the Q&A below:
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Questions answered by Stephen Sharman, CHIC
Are the CHIC frameworks suitable for procurement for small, specialist providers? We have less than 1,000 units with mainly shared houses and large hostel buildings - so not traditional general needs provision.
Yes. Membership of CHIC, and the associated services we provide are open to any organisation that falls under public procurement requirements. We have members of all sizes from 50 properties up to 130,000+, and providers of general needs properties but also TMOs and specialist care providers.I would like details of the framework please.
Click here to learn more about CHIC Healthy Homes Framework.Click here to learn more about CHIC Framework and DPS.
What specific lessons did CHIC learn from Waves 1 and 2 that are now being applied in Wave 3?
The main lessons from Wave 1 and 2 are original estimates of costs were not accurate, more curate details of requirements were needed prior to funding bids, but funding required to support the initial assessments. Also, the limited Schedule of Rates included for tenders was impossible to operate, and not comprehensive enough, which is why our framework allows for the open book approach and/or use of the NHF Schedule of Rates. Finally, if members wait until they get notification of a successful funding bid before engaging with delivery contractors, valuable project time is lost whilst doing the procurement work, and this leads to funding not being spent and having to be handed back. The successful delivery of projects we have seen are where members engaged with potential contractors whilst waiting for funding approval, on the basis that discussions and any contracts agreed were subject to said approval. At the point of funding approval, provisional contracts that had been agreed were issued for signing and delivery commenced soon after.Can you elaborate on the “Healthy Homes Framework” and how it helps social landlords achieve decarbonisation goals?
The framework assists social landlords in compliantly accessing consultants and contractors to assess their property, design the specific interventions required to help achieve the decarbonisation goals, and then delivered the specified interventions whether it be to the fabric of buildings and/or M&E solutions.How does CHIC support its members in navigating the complexities of procurement while ensuring ongoing project support?
CHIC has a dedicated in-house procurement team on hand to guide our members through all of the complexities of procurement to ensure they remain compliant, whether this be via a Direct Award or a further competitive process. We then also assist and facilitate (where required by members) the mobilisation process and attend initial contract meetings. Furthermore, we are then also available for ongoing high level contract management support such as mediation on issues arising during the term of the contract. All of these additional services pre and post contract award are at no extra cost to the member.What is covered by the Consultancy support in CHIC?
The Healthy Homes framework provides access to a range of consultancy services including firms specialising in design services. It offers expertise in developing strategies, assessing, planning and advising on energy efficiency and safety enhancements.
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Questions answered by Kate Watson, RISE
I'm still confused about the 2050 target for housing. I hear about achieving net zero by 2050. But what does that mean as a standard for a home?
Each home is different and therefore there won’t be an easy answer to this one. Some homes are easy to retrofit and upgrade and could potentially be made net positive, producing more energy than they use. Others, particularly traditional construction, conservation areas, ANOBs and Listed buildings may not be able to achieve net zero. So essentially it is the best that can be achieved for that building within the constraints on the property. This is not a constraint on funding/capital expenditure.Could RISE confirm if the on gas grid LCH incentive can be used for a home of any EPC, or does it just apply to homes lower than EPC level C?
Please refer to page 25 and 26 of the guidance. It does not state that the LCH incentive homes have to be at a particular starting EPC. However, please note that most E, F and G properties are likely in need of other fabric improvements before they might be suitable for LCH. Your Retrofit Coordinator should be able to advise on this.Will landlords be penalised if they do not have their procurement in place for contractors and consultants?
This really depends on a number of things.
If you are already proceeding with your procurement and you will have a contractor in place early into the delivery period (from April 2025) then this may not be a problem. If you are not planning on doing procurement until you’ve been awarded funding, it’s likely you won’t have contractors in place until the autumn, and therefore your route to funding may be an important consideration.If you are on the Strategic partnership route you would be expected to commence delivery within a short window after the commencement of the scheme (from April 2025).
If you are in a Strategic Partnership consortium, and other landlords in the consortium are ready to deliver, your procurement may not be as much as an issue. However, you need to discuss this with the consortium lead so that the delivery of funding can meet the 33:33:33 requirements set out by the Department.
If you are taking the Challenge Fund route – then this is one of the reasons it has been set up, to allow you to do procurement and deliver as appropriate. You will need to indicate this on your application – the phase requests, the project delivery plan (annex’s).
Please note if you are applying for Strategic partnerships, it may be prudent to provide an affirmative answer where it asks, ‘would you like to be considered for the Challenge Fund if you are not successful in your application for Strategic funding.’
Please note if you are applying for Strategic partnerships, it may be prudent to provide an affirmative answer where it asks, ‘would you like to be considered for the Challenge Fund if you are not successful in your application for Strategic funding.’
Could you discuss some challenges you have observed among previous successful applicants and how RISE helps applicants overcome them?
There have been many different facets of developing a retrofit project where we have helped. We incorporate this into the questions we ask on our Self-Assessment and maturity against these criteria to better understand how we can help each applicant as required. For example: identifying appropriate properties, identifying appropriate measures; data checking/cleansing of data for submission, project management support, resident liaison support, setting up a consortium etc.In your view, what are the best strategies for social landlords to meet both funding deadlines and quality standards during retrofits?
My best advice is to understand your stock – condition and what needs to be done to it through data collection. Additionally, you need to understand the residents and engage with them early. What are their barriers? How can you help them understand the BENEFITS of retrofit for them.Hi, it is the warm homes program solely focused on heat pumps etc. We are a small Housing Association and wanted to focus on fabric first, i.e., insulation grants for loft insulation, cavity wall insulation. How would a small HA move forward on this?
Not at all – the ‘base cost cap’ is there for all fabric measures. So with co-funding you have an average of £15k per property. Please remember, you are responsible for managing the funding and achieving the 50:50 grant: co-fund split at the end of the programme. So, you can use any underspend on the base cost cap on one property by increasing on another – as long as you have that 50:50 split at the end.How have you delivered successful resident engagement when installing complex measures...Like EWI?
Yes – it's challenging and my advice is to be honest about the impact. How long it takes, the noise, the dust, access to the inside etc.
Questions answered by Hamza, LivGreen
Hamza can you share what makes LivGreen the contractor of choice for retrofit?
As specialist Retrofit Contractor which provides a one-stop-shop for social and private landlords in delivering high quality retrofit projects. We are committed to partnering with our clients to support them through their decarbonisation journey. Through retrofitting, we aim to reduce costs and improve carbon efficiency while promoting affordable warmth, improving environmental credentials, and enhancing comfort levels for tenants.With our extensive knowledge of working with the Housing Sector across the UK, we are trusted by property owners and housing organisations to deliver a best-practice quality standard of retrofit with minimal disruption to tenants. All our assessors and installers are PAS 2030:2019 certified and can deliver work at a scalability to meet all your property requirements.
How does LivGreen manage supply chain partnerships to mitigate cost fluctuations and ensure high-quality project delivery?
Our extensive nationwide supply chain allows us to successfully deliver net zero projects across the United Kingdom, ensuring cost-effectiveness and reliable delivery. Collaboration with a diverse group of partners is one of our many strengths, enabling us to offer our customers optimal solutions whilst realising our commitment to delivering value and innovation at every stage of the project. LivGreen focuses on sustainability, supporting local and providing value for money.
What opportunities are there for onboarding and upskilling new talent into the green energy sector to help with delivery?
Opportunities to bring in and develop talent in the green sector include partnerships with universities and training providers for internships, creating entry-level roles with training pathways, and upskilling existing staff through certifications. Look into government grants for training in renewable and energy efficiency fields and collaborate with industry bodies on skills programmes to keep your workforce up to date with the latest green technologies. One of the biggest challenges in the sector is the lack of a skilled workforce. LivGreen are passionate about this, as this is something that will need to be addressed to reach the government's ambitious targets.What are the biggest challenges LivGreen encounters when supporting social landlords in the SHDF process, and how do you address them?
LivGreen encounters several key challenges when supporting social landlords in the SHDF processOne of the biggest challenges in the SHDF
Understanding Your Stock: Complex Funding Requirements: The detailed SHDF application process can be overwhelming. LivGreen guides landlords through each step, ensuring compliance to maximize funding.- Tenant Engagement: Effective communication with tenants about retrofit benefits is challenging. LivGreen provides tailored strategies and resources to build tenant understanding and support.
- Technical and Operational Complexity: Retrofits require extensive planning and expertise. LivGreen offers end-to-end project management, from energy assessments to contractor coordination.
- Cost Constraints vs. Standards: Balancing budgets with SHDF’s energy goals is difficult. LivGreen identifies cost-effective solutions that meet both financial and energy performance needs.
- Regulatory Compliance: Staying updated on changing regulations is challenging. LivGreen provides guidance to ensure projects meet current and future standards.
Through these strategies, LivGreen enables social landlords to meet SHDF goals while supporting tenant and regulatory requirements effectively.
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