Publication - Advice and guidance
Energy Efficiency Standard for Social Housing post 2020: interim guidance for social landlords
Interim guidance for social landlords during the review of the Energy Efficiency Standard for Social Housing post 2020 (EESSH2), updated 2026.
2. The EESSH Milestones
2.1 The 2020 EESSH milestone (EESSH1) set a single minimum Energy Efficiency rating for each home rented by social landlords. The target varied dependent upon the dwelling type and the fuel type used to heat it. In terms of the SAP 2012 methodology, the target varied between a rating of 47 (in EPC band E) for an oil heated house and 69 (in EPC band C) for a gas heated flat.[6]
2.2 The 2025 Milestone for EESSH2 was as follows:
- By 31 December 2025, no social housing is to be re-let below EPC Band D, and
- By 31 December 2025, no energy efficiency improvements in social housing should worsen either the environmental impact rating of a home, or the air quality of a home.
2.3 The 2032 Milestone for EESSH2 was as follows:
- By 31 December 2032, all social housing meets, or can be treated as meeting, EPC Band B, or is as energy efficient as practically possible, within the limits of cost, technology, and necessary consent.
2.4 Details of these milestones and what they require was set out in the EESSH2 guidance published in March 2021[7].