Source · Select Committees · Energy Security and Net Zero Committee
1st Report - Retrofitting homes for net zero
Energy Security and Net Zero Committee
HC 453
Published 22 May 2025
Recommendations
3
Accepted in Part
Announce long-term home retrofit programme beyond 2026, including reduced schemes and relaxed criteria.
Recommendation
The Government must announce a long-term programme for how it plans to support home retrofit beyond 2026 in its Warm Homes Plan. This should include a reduction in the number of schemes offered; significantly relaxed eligibility criteria to prioritise uptake; …
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Government Response Summary
The government recognizes the need for a long-term retrofit program and has committed £13.2 billion to the Warm Homes Plan for 2025/26-2029/30, addressing simplified eligibility and area-based retrofit, with further details on allocations to be set out by October this year.
Department for Energy Security and Net Zero
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5
Accepted in Part
England lacks a single, trusted source for free home retrofit information and advice.
Recommendation
There is a clear need for a single, trusted source of free information and advice on home retrofit that can be accessed via multiple sources. Such provision already exists in Scotland and Wales but does not in England. Consumer advice …
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Government Response Summary
The government acknowledges the need for trusted advice and is streamlining existing digital services and a national phoneline into a single user journey. It is also exploring opportunities to work with local advice services, with further steps to be outlined in the Warm Homes Plan.
Department for Energy Security and Net Zero
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26
Accepted in Part
Publish Net Zero and Nature Workforce Action Plan by 2025 for home retrofit skills.
Recommendation
We recommend that the Government resumes work undertaken by the previous Government to prepare a Net Zero and Nature Workforce Action Plan. This should be published by the end of 2025 and include a specific roadmap for meeting the skills …
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Government Response Summary
The government acknowledges the need for a skilled supply chain and highlights significant investment through the Warm Homes Plan, plans to train 18,000 workers, new apprenticeships, and collaboration with Skills England and the Office for Clean Energy Jobs to address workforce challenges in net zero sectors, including retrofit. However, it does not explicitly commit to resuming or publishing a Net Zero and Nature Workforce Action Plan by the specified deadline.
Department for Energy Security and Net Zero
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27
Accepted in Part
Increase Heat Training Grant to fully compensate workers for lost earnings during retrofit upskilling.
Recommendation
The Government should increase the value of the Heat Training Grant to provide workers with full compensation for lost earnings when taking time off work to upskill on low carbon retrofit. This should take effect until market demand provides sufficient …
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Government Response Summary
The government announced an additional £5 million in funding for the Heat Training Grant this financial year and continues to work on ensuring its value for money. However, they are sceptical about plans to fully compensate installers for lost earnings due to concerns about complexity and fraud risks.
Department for Energy Security and Net Zero
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30
Accepted in Part
Introduce national workforce accreditation and contractor licensing schemes for all retrofit work, ensuring consumer redress.
Recommendation
We recommend that the Government introduces a national workforce accreditation scheme and a national contractor licensing scheme as a prerequisite for carrying out any retrofit work. These should be granted powers to revoke licenses or impose financial penalties for poor …
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Government Response Summary
The government announced an intention to conduct a sweeping overhaul of the system of standards, oversight, and consumer protections for retrofit. They are exploring a full range of options for a new system that ensures quality and clear redress, drawing insights from models like the Gas Safe Register, and will provide an update in the Warm Homes Plan.
Department for Energy Security and Net Zero
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31
Accepted in Part
Seriously improve the Energy Company Obligation policy to clarify installer accountability for poor quality retrofit work.
Recommendation
We found it incredible that the Residential Property Surveyors Association has reported that around 250,000 homes could be un-mortgageable due to spray foam insulation and that the accountability to remedy things remains unclear. We recommend that the Energy Company Obligation, …
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Government Response Summary
The government acknowledges the need for fundamental reform in quality assurance and consumer redress, stating that work is underway, and plans for root and branch reform will be set out in the Warm Homes Plan, including considering the future role of energy company obligations post-2026.
Department for Energy Security and Net Zero
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