Case Study: Neighbourhood Investment Unit

Short Description

Metropolitan Housing Trust London (MHT) developed a programme for refurbishing harder to treat Victorian street properties to a standard that goes well beyond the Government’s Decent Homes standard, with a whole house approach that involves decanting the householders into alternative accommodation for 14 weeks.

The world before the project happened:
- Non decent Victorian street properties;
- Residents living in hard to heat homes and at risk of fuel poverty.

The intended change:
- Whole house street property refurbishment that dramatically cuts carbon emissions;
- Maximise the opportunities for residents to be engaged;
- To create more welcoming and energy efficient affordable homes.

The world after the project finished:
- Sixty-two fully refurbished properties completed;
- Typical carbon emissions reduction in excess of 45% per home;
- Highly satisfaction residents engaged in doing their bit to save energy.

Key Elements

Thermal Insulation

- 300mm loft insulation.
- 100mm floor insulation (ground level timber suspended floors).
- 60mm K18 Kingspan Kooltherm internal wall insulation.

Windows and Shading

 Double glazed windows (refitting timber sash double glazed windows in conservation areas).

Electricity Saving Products

- At least 3 low energy light fittings (kitchen, bathroom & hall).
- Fitting of a rotary drier in rear gardens.
- Complete electrical re-wiring.

Water Saving

 Low flow dual flush toilet.

Asset Management

Resident liaison officer assigned as main contact throughout the refurbishment to provide support and tackle any special needs.

The team are part of the regeneration department and as such have strong linkages with community investment. Residents have been supported into work and often engage in our eat well, eat wise project and our sports outreach work.

Work with Residents

New resident eco ‘welcome home’ pack (inc. various eco products) and an Information guide to getting the most out of your refurbished home

Main Results

MEETING THE OBJECTIVES

The scheme has met and continues to meet all its key objectives (showing that whole house retrofit of old street properties can be achieved, that residents can be fully engaged, that we can significantly reduce the risk of fuel poverty in our harder to treat homes) and much more besides.

SIGNIFICANT CHANGES

This unique project has fully refurbished and modernised 62 homes in the last 18 months, supporting improvement in the lives of over 180 people living in those properties. Residents have new homes that really accommodate their requirements. The refurbished homes are typically achieving more than a 45% reduction in CO2 emissions (with an uplift in the Energy Performance Certificate energy efficiency rating to about 80). Subsequently residents are able to halve their fuel costs and are being supported to make changes in their behaviour, greatly reducing their risk of being in fuel poverty.

PERFORMANCE

Typical energy performance of a Neighbourhood Investment Unit completed mid terrace home:

Energy use: 164 kWh/m2 per year

Carbon dioxide emissions: 2.3 tonnes per year

Estimated fuel costs of this home: £457

Lessons learned

Having an in-house team including a resident liaison officer and two building surveyors, overseen by the head of unit, ensures a consistency in service delivery and confidence in running a complex regeneration project. This is supported by working with a variety of contractors that has enabled us greater flexibility and an improvement in the effectiveness of the programming. As a result we are reaching more people and homes.

This approach to refurbishment of properties, involving the decanting of resident into temporary accommodation, requires significant inconvenience for the household. It is crucial that expectations about the timescales, the scope of works and service expectations, is well managed from the outset. Through experience we are now better able to manage the varied expectations of residents. This includes a new resident refurbishment guide, customer charter and an amended customer satisfaction survey to improve feedback and customisation of the service.

Having established this programme, we are seeking cost effective ways to further develop the energy efficiency elements of the programme in line with the new government aims of near carbon neutrality in homes by 2050.