We’re committed to provide our customers with safe, warm, affordable places to live and ensuring they are as energy efficient as possible. More than 90% of our homes have an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) of Band C or above and we are on track to have all of our homes reach this standard by the end of the decade.
LivGreen is our appointed partner who will be contacting you to arrange an appointment to carry out a survey.
What is an Energy Performance Certificate?
Just like appliances in your home, like washing machines, TVs, and fridges have energy ratings, all homes have an EPC rating, which tells you how energy efficient they are. The highest rating is A and the lowest rating is G. The Government wants all social homes to have a C rating or higher by 2030.
Ratings are calculated using a number of factors including heating systems, insulation and the age of the property, to determine its overall energy performance. You can check your home’s EPC rating on the Gov.uk website
More retrofit works to be carried out
Our work to improve our homes is supported by the Government which has provided us with funding to improve our homes through the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund. This is the second funding application that Broadland has been successful in gaining. LivGreen will be carry out these works.
What is retrofit?
Retrofit is the process of installing new energy-saving measures into existing homes to improve their overall performance. Retrofit is specifically designed to reduce energy use and carbon emissions and make it cheaper to live in.
What to expect
We have identified a number of properties which have EPC ratings below C that would benefit from energy efficiency improvements. Here’s what will happen if your home is on our programme:
- Our Team will write to you to introduce the programme, outline some of the improvements that might be considered for your home and to introduce our contractor LivGreen, who we have appointed to support us with this work.
- LivGreen will contact you to arrange to meet you to get to understand your home and assess which improvements would be best for you.
- Following this survey, you will be contacted to arrange a date to carry out the work. LivGreen will explain what access they will need to your home and will give you an estimate of how long the work will take. You will be able to continue living in your home while work takes place.
- LivGreen will help you understand all the work being done to your home. Once everything’s completed, we will provide you with guides to help you make the most of the improvements to your home. You should benefit from a warmer home that needs less energy to heat. This should help you lower your energy bills.
Why is this important?
We want our residents to live in warm homes that are affordable. This funding is allowing us to improve our homes by looking at a home in its entirety not just fitting one improvement such as new insulation or windows. The government has proposed that if a property is not EPC C by 2030, it will not be lettable and we may need to dispose of properties if we are not able to improve their energy efficiency.
Will it cost me anything?
No. These works are funded by ourselves and the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero. By improving the energy efficiency of your home, it should mean you have to use less energy to keep your home warm which may save you money. We benefit from a lettable property, while you benefit from the improvements to your home.
Why am I not able pick and choose measures?
We carry out assessments to look at a whole property solution to reduce the amount of energy needed to keep it warm and more affordable to heat. All these measures need to be completed collectively to reach and EPC C and are individual to your property.
How disruptive will these works be?
These works can be disruptive and will require several appointments over a period of several weeks. Depending on the measures we identify for your home, disruption may include noise and general construction disturbance. Our contractors will work with you closely, to ensure you are properly informed and your home is looked after throughout the process. We will ensure your home is left clean and tidy at the end of each working day. If you require additional support for these works to go ahead, our resident liaison officer, Stuart Atkins, will be able to work with you to facilitate this and support you.
Will I be told/shown how to use these measures?
Yes. Once the works are completed we will meet with you for a handover appointment. We will provide you with a handover document including a How To Guide and relevant information, including guarantees.
How long will the work take?
You will be updated about the schedule of works to your home and our contractors will keep you updated if things are taking a little longer than expected. Timescales can vary due to contractors and varying factors but works aim to be completed within a condensed timeframe.