Energy efficiency upgrades for social housing
The Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund (SHDF) supports local authorities, councils, and social housing providers in delivering major energy-efficiency improvements across social housing stock. At AEG, we help organisations explore upgrade opportunities including insulation, low-carbon heating, and renewable technologies to improve EPC ratings, reduce energy costs, and create warmer, healthier homes for tenants.
What is the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund?
The SHDF is a government-backed funding route aimed at improving the energy performance of social housing properties.
It supports projects that can help:
- Upgrade homes with poor energy performance
- Improve EPC ratings
- Reduce heat loss and energy waste
- Install low-carbon heating solutions
- Introduce renewable technologies where appropriate
- Lower tenant fuel costs
- Support net-zero and decarbonisation strategies
What upgrades can the fund support?
Depending on project scope and property needs, SHDF-backed improvements may include:
Loft insulation
Cavity wall insulation
Internal or external wall insulation
Underfloor insulation
Draught proofing and air-tightness improvements
Heating system upgrades
Low-carbon heating solutions
Air source heat pumps
Ventilation improvements
Solar PV / renewable measures where appropriate
Measures that help improve EPC performance
Who is this fund for?
The Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund is aimed at organisations responsible for managing and improving social housing stock.
This may include:
- Local authorities
- District and borough councils
- Housing associations
- Registered providers of social housing
- Public sector housing asset teams
- Organisations managing large-scale housing retrofit projects
Key benefits of the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund
Improve EPC ratings across housing stock
Support progress toward better-performing homes and stronger compliance outcomes.
Reduce fuel poverty for tenants
Better insulation and heating upgrades can reduce heat loss and improve affordability.
Support healthier, warmer homes
Improved thermal comfort can enhance living conditions and reduce cold-home risks.
Deliver long-term asset improvement
Retrofit measures can improve the resilience, efficiency, and future value of social housing properties.
Support carbon reduction goals
Reduce emissions across housing portfolios and align with broader decarbonisation strategies.
How AEG supports social housing providers
AEG works with organisations that need a practical, delivery-focused approach to retrofit planning and funding support.
- Initial project discussions and housing stock review
- Identifying suitable energy-efficiency and heating measures
- Support with retrofit strategy planning
- Guidance on likely improvement pathways for EPC uplift
- Advice on insulation, low-carbon heating, and renewable options
- Support with project scoping for housing associations and local authorities
- Clear communication around next steps and delivery considerations
Talk to AEG about social housing retrofit support
If you are a council, housing association, or social housing provider, AEG can help you explore how the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund may support insulation, low-carbon heating, and renewable upgrades across your housing stock.
Contact AEG today to discuss Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund support.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund?
It is a funding route designed to help improve the energy performance of social housing through measures such as insulation, heating upgrades, and renewable technologies.
Who can benefit from SHDF?
Typically local authorities, councils, housing associations, and registered social housing providers.
What types of measures are commonly included?|P
Common measures include insulation, low-carbon heating, ventilation improvements, and renewable energy systems such as solar PV.
Can it help improve EPC ratings?
Yes, one of the core aims is to improve the energy performance of social housing stock, including EPC uplift.
How can AEG help?
AEG helps organisations understand project opportunities, plan upgrade pathways, and explore practical funding-supported retrofit strategies.