New Report Shows Social Housing is Leading on ESG
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New Report Shows Social Housing is Leading on ESG




Sustainability for Housing (SfH) has released its 2024 Sustainability Reporting Standard for Social Housing (SRS) Annual Report, revealing compelling progress across a broad spectrum of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) indicators.


Described by SfH Chair Piers Williamson as a “coming of age” for the movement, the findings mark a shift from one-off snapshots to longitudinal data that allows for genuine trend analysis and real accountability.


“Despite all the political noise and suggestions of businesses rowing back on sustainability and social responsibility, the social housing sector remains committed to an environmentally, socially and economically sustainable future,” Williamson said.

One of the key findings of this year’s report is that housing providers continue to make sound progress on homes meeting EPC C and better, averaging 76%. This is well above the wider housing market, which is around 48% according to research from the most recent English Housing Survey. A number of housing associations (HAs) reported more than 80% of homes at EPC C and above, including Bromford (89%), Orbit (85%), Aster (84%) and A2 Dominion (81%).


Housemark, the data insights partner for this year’s report, estimates that around 100,000 homes were upgraded to EPC C or higher in 2023/24. At that rate, the full upgrade of social housing stock could be achieved within 13–14 years.


“The insights from our analysis offer a clear picture of where the sector is making progress and where challenges remain,” said Andrew Jackson, Director of Consultancy and Partnerships at Housemark. “At a time when transparency, consistency and credibility matter more than ever, this work provides a strong foundation for ESG reporting in social housing.”

Culture and Strategy Are Shifting


The report is based on data from 91 housing providers, managing nearly 1.9 million homes across England, Scotland and Wales. But it's not just about data points it's about what that data is prompting. According to an SfH survey of housing providers, over 40% say the SRS has led to a change in strategy or culture, a marked increase from 31% last year.


“It has kept us honest with ourselves about what we planned to do and achieved in sustainability territory,” said Elizabeth Froude, Chief Executive of Platform Housing. “It’s so good to see that we now have so many more organisations who have joined us on the journey.”

Ian McDermott, CEO of Peabody, added: “Transparency and accountability are central to that responsibility… Each [SRS] report has helped us reflect on our progress, identify areas for improvement and focus our efforts where they can have the greatest impact.”


Evolving Standards, Expanding Adoption


Now in its fourth year, the SRS has grown from 78 adopters to 170 organisations 132 of which are housing providers, managing nearly 2.4 million homes, and 38 are funders. These funders are responsible for the lion’s share of the £133 billion of private finance flowing into the sector.


This year also saw the introduction of SRS version 2.0, with updated metrics covering net zero, equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI), and resident voice. The framework is now mapped to global ESG standards, reinforcing its credibility among funders and stakeholders.


“The year-on-year increase in housing associations adopting and proactively using the reporting standard confirms its relevance and unique position in the world of ESG,” said David Cleary, Head of Housing at Lloyds Banking Group and SfH Board Member.


Investor Confidence and Improved Disclosure


The funder community appears to agree. A full 80% of investors surveyed said the SRS had improved both the ESG performance and accountability of housing providers. The same percentage believed it had led to better, more useful information for assessing ESG risk and opportunity, up from 56% last year.


“Sustainability reporting is critical for investors in the social housing sector,” said Sinead Lennon, Investment Stewardship Manager at Pension Insurance Corporation. “It helps provide transparency and comparability… useful in decision making.”

Progress on Key Issues


Other highlights from this year’s data include:


  • 99.7% of new homes built in 2024 met EPC C or higher

  • 9.5% of new homes achieved EPC A, up from 2.1% in 2022


Yet challenges remain. This year, for the first time, 37 providers reported data on damp and mould cases, with 86,670 homes affected—an average of 7% of their stock. This is significantly higher than the 3–4% estimated by the regulator’s 2023 survey. Still, the disclosure itself represents progress.


“The number of HAs reporting on the enhanced damp and mould disclosure was a welcome addition,” the report notes. “It reflects growing commitment to transparent and responsive reporting.”


Standardisation and the Path Forward


SfH acknowledges inconsistencies in how some metrics, especially emissions, are currently reported. Differences in methodology have made like-for-like comparison difficult. That’s set to change with new guidance and standardisation, shaped in consultation with an ESG Working Group of around 20 sustainability leads across the sector.


“We’re working hard to align reporting approaches,” said Williamson. “We’d encourage all housing associations to stay the course and continue to tell your story in this evidence-based way.”


Meanwhile, Housemark and SfH are collaborating on a new online ESG portal, which will allow providers to benchmark performance, track progress, and improve decision-making with credible, consistent data.


The Bigger Picture


As the sector braces for more financial pressure and heightened scrutiny, the SRS has become more a statement of intent.


“We continue to invest in improving the quality and scope of our data, because better insights lead to better decisions,” said Peabody’s McDermott. “The SRS remains an essential tool in helping us and the sector build a more sustainable future.”



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