Social Housing Energy Upgrades in Greater Manchester: What Tenants Can Expect

Greater Manchester’s social housing sector is undergoing its biggest energy upgrade programme in decades. Across the city-region’s approximately 250,000 social homes managed by housing associations and councils, tens of thousands of properties are receiving insulation improvements, heating system replacements and renewable energy installations funded through a combination of government grants, housing association investment and social housing energy programme (social housing energy programme) allocations. If you are a social housing tenant in Bolton, Bury, Manchester, Oldham, Rochdale, Salford, Tameside, Trafford or Wigan, here is what upgrades may be coming to your home and what to expect from the process.

What Funding Is Available for Social Housing Upgrades?

The social housing energy programme (social housing energy programme) is the main government programme funding energy improvements to social homes. The social housing energy programme has allocated significant funding nationally, with several Greater Manchester housing associations receiving significant allocations. The fund requires landlords to improve homes to at least EPC C by the end of the project, with the aspiration of reaching EPC B or A where feasible.

government energy efficiency schemes also funds improvements to social housing, with energy suppliers delivering insulation and heating measures through partnerships with housing associations. Several Greater Manchester associations have ongoing government energy efficiency schemes delivery agreements covering cavity wall insulation, loft insulation and boiler replacements across their stock.

Housing associations also invest their own capital. The largest associations operating in Greater Manchester – including Wigan and Leigh Housing, Bolton at Home, Southway Housing (Manchester), Great Places, Onward Homes and ForHousing – all have multi-year investment plans for improving the energy performance of their properties. Combined with government funding, the total investment in Greater Manchester social housing energy improvements is running at hundreds of millions of pounds per year.

What Upgrades Are Being Installed?

The specific measures depend on the property type, its current condition, and the funding available. Common upgrades across Greater Manchester social housing include:

External wall insulation (EWI) is being applied to thousands of non-traditional construction homes across the city-region. Blocks of concrete-panel flats in Salford, system-built homes in Wigan and Leigh, and pre-fab properties in Oldham and Rochdale are receiving 80mm to 120mm of external insulation clad with a protective render finish. EWI transforms the thermal performance and appearance of these properties, reducing heat loss by 40% to 60%.

Cavity wall and loft insulation top-ups are the most common measures for traditionally-built properties from the 1930s to 1980s. Many of these homes had partial insulation installed in the 1990s or 2000s that has since settled or degraded. Re-filling or topping up brings them to current standards.

Air source heat pumps are being installed in selected properties, particularly where the existing gas heating is reaching end of life and the property’s insulation is already adequate. Several Greater Manchester housing associations are running pilot programmes to build experience before larger-scale rollouts. Bolton at Home and ForHousing have been among the early adopters, with hundreds of heat pump installations planned or completed.

Solar panels are being fitted to suitable roofs across social housing estates, reducing tenants’ electricity bills and generating income for the housing association through the export tariff. Community solar schemes, where panels are installed across multiple properties and the benefit is shared, are also being piloted in several Manchester neighbourhoods.

What Tenants Can Expect During Upgrade Work

Your housing association should inform you well in advance of any planned work, explain what will be done, and arrange access. The level of disruption depends on the measure:

External wall insulation typically takes two to four weeks per block or property. Access is mainly from outside, so internal disruption is minimal. You may need to move items away from external walls temporarily, and scaffolding will be erected around the property. The finish dramatically improves the building’s appearance and should eliminate cold walls and reduce condensation.

Loft insulation takes half a day to a day and requires access to the loft hatch. You will need to ensure the loft is accessible and clear around the hatch. Cavity wall insulation takes one day and is done from outside, with small holes drilled in the mortar joints then filled after injection.

Heat pump installation takes two to four days and involves significant work both inside and outside. You will be without heating for one to two days during the changeover. Your housing association should arrange temporary heating if the work happens during cold weather. The new system may look and feel different from your old gas boiler – ask for a demonstration of the controls.

Your Rights as a Social Housing Tenant

As a tenant, you have the right to be consulted about proposed improvements, receive adequate notice before work starts (typically four to eight weeks), have the work carried out to a reasonable standard, and raise concerns or complaints if the work is not satisfactory. You cannot unreasonably refuse access for essential improvements, but your housing association must work around your needs and schedule where possible.

Energy improvement work should not increase your rent. The housing quality standards requires social landlords to maintain properties at a reasonable level, and energy improvements are part of meeting that standard. Your energy bills should decrease as a result of the improvements – your housing association should be able to estimate the expected savings for your specific property.

If improvements cause disruption, damage or problems, report them to your housing association promptly. Work funded through social housing energy programme and government energy efficiency schemes comes with quality guarantees through quality assurance frameworks (25 years for insulation, 2 years for heating installations). If issues arise after the work is completed, your housing association remains responsible for rectifying them.

Expected Savings for Greater Manchester Tenants

The savings from energy upgrades depend on what measures are installed and the starting condition of the property. Typical annual savings for Greater Manchester social housing tenants include:

• External wall insulation: £200 to £500 per year in reduced heating costs
• Cavity wall insulation: £150 to £350 per year
• Loft insulation top-up: £50 to £150 per year
• New boiler replacing an old inefficient one: £100 to £250 per year
• Solar panels: £100 to £250 per year in reduced electricity costs
• Comprehensive package (insulation plus heating plus solar): £400 to £800 per year

For a tenant in a poorly insulated flat in Rochdale or Tameside currently spending £1,800 to £2,200 per year on energy, a comprehensive upgrade could cut that to £1,000 to £1,400 – a saving that makes a real difference to household budgets.

How to Find Out About Planned Upgrades for Your Home

Contact your housing association’s customer service team and ask about planned energy improvements for your property or estate. Most associations publish their improvement programmes on their websites and include information about upcoming work in tenant newsletters and communication channels.

If your home is cold, draughty or has condensation problems and no upgrades are currently planned, report these issues to your housing association. They have a legal obligation to maintain the property at the housing quality standards, and persistent cold or damp may trigger an assessment and improvement works. Mentioning specific symptoms (cold walls, window condensation, mould growth, high energy bills) helps the housing officer prioritise your case.

Greater Manchester’s ten borough councils all have energy guidance services that can advocate on behalf of social housing tenants. your local advisory service provides free support for tenants experiencing cold homes or disputes with their housing provider about property conditions.

Will energy upgrades increase my rent?

Energy improvements should not increase your rent. Social housing rents are set according to the government’s rent standard, and energy improvements are part of maintaining the housing quality standards. Your energy bills should decrease as a result of the work, meaning your overall housing costs go down. If your housing association attempts to increase rent citing improvements, contact your local advisory service for support.

Can I refuse to have energy improvements done?

You cannot unreasonably refuse access for essential maintenance and improvements required under the housing quality standards or your tenancy agreement. However, your housing association must consult with you, give adequate notice, and accommodate your reasonable needs during the work. If you have specific concerns (health conditions, working from home, childcare), raise these early so the work can be scheduled around your requirements.

What if the upgrade work causes damage or problems?

Report any damage or issues to your housing association immediately. Document problems with photographs and keep a record of communications. Work funded through social housing energy programme and government energy efficiency schemes comes with quality assurance scheme guarantees, and your housing association is responsible for ensuring the work meets required standards. If you are not satisfied with the response, escalate through the housing association’s complaints procedure and, if necessary, contact the housing complaints service.