P49 Social Kara Tomas Meek2
Kara Tomes-Meek Head of Sustainability

Understanding our homes and land

It’s important for us to know the impact our homes have on the environment. 74% of our homes have an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of C and above, with 97% of new homes rating B or above. We undertake regular stock condition surveys to ensure our properties meet government targets for sustainability, and for 71% of our homes we have recent surveys under five years old.

We continue to invest into our homes to improve energy efficiency by upgrading wall insulation, windows, solar panels, and new roofing. We aim for all our properties to achieve an EPC rating of C or above by 2030, where it’s cost effective and practical. We also aim to have all our new homes built to EPC band B.

Residents have told us that green spaces and nature are important to them, and we understand how critical they are for us as a housing provider. We need green spaces to help prevent flooding, and trees to help reduce overheating and pollution.

We’ve been busy mapping out over half of our grounds maintenance responsibilities, specifying the ground cover of grass, shrubbery and woodland. Along with a tree survey which so far has mapped nearly 17,500 trees, collecting information on tree species age, structure and condition.

We’re also committed to increasing and protecting animals, plants, and their homes within our land ownership to support biodiversity, and we’re currently working with residents and stakeholders to co-create a biodiversity pathway.

Residents at the heart

Residents’ views are an essential part of our sustainability journey. The invaluable insight we received at resident workshops, along with over 1,500 responses to our sustainability survey means we’ve included areas in our new strategy that are important and meaningful to residents and their communities.

A highlight for the sustainability team over the last year is the collaboration with Swale Borough Council and our residents on a project to plant 500 trees in Sittingbourne. The new trees will support local biodiversity, and bring a positive impact to our resident’s health and wellbeing.

We’ve also set up a number of local nature and gardening projects with residents, and in collaboration with our contractors providing funds and labour. All projects aim to have an impact on the whole community, as well as improving biodiversity.

We have several resident sustainability champions and, we’re delighted that one of our residents became a Climate Champion Power List winner in the Unlock Net Zero Live awards 2023.

Reducing consumption

Sustainability and residents are at the heart of our business. We don’t have all the answers to every environmental issue impacting our residents right now, but we do have a clear direction of travel.

Here are just a few of the commitments we’ve made which will support our residents in reducing consumption:

  • Helping residents reduce their water consumption by installing a water meter and water saving devices in all our new builds.
  • Installing smart meter technology in all voids.
  • All new homes will have internal recycling facilities.
  • Providing cycle racks in all our new homes and provide address specific transport advice in all new tenancy packs.
  • Providing a bespoke energy advice service.
  • Running campaigns throughout the year that residents can get involved in.

Our news

All Articles
G15 Logo
  • 19 November 2024

Southern Housing features prominently in latest G15 “Room to Grow” report

P49 Social Dave Harney2
  • 14 November 2024

Using coaching and insight to improve resident experience

Lewis Kinch (1)
  • 25 September 2024
  • Careers

Blog: Our seven principles for successful co-creation

Southernhousing
  • 28 August 2024
  • Announcement

Southern Housing upgraded to highest governance rating by Regulator

P49 Social Vikki Waker2
  • 12 August 2024

Blog: The housing crisis - Is Shared Ownership the key?

Shg 26A (1)
  • 30 July 2024
  • Careers

Blog: Residents and colleagues working together as one

Karin Wildlife
  • 16 July 2024

Blog: We must all take responsibility for our local wildlife

P49 Social Karin Stockerl2
  • 27 June 2024

Blog: Investing in our homes - a call for collaborative action

Richard White 1 (1)
  • 12 June 2024

Blog: Housing associations are key partners in solving the housing crisis

Election Campaign 1B
  • 03 June 2024

Blog: More than 140,000 children are living in temporary accommodation

P49 Social Chris Middleton2
  • 28 May 2024

Blog: Transforming homes through strategic investment

P49 Social Lily Monk2
  • 22 May 2024

Blog: The journey towards a single contact centre

P49 Social Paul Hackett2 1
  • 14 May 2024

A response to the Ombudsman’s Paragraph 49 report

P49 Social Tina Edwards2
  • 19 April 2024

Blog: Navigating cultural integration - Building a unified identity at Southern Housing

P49 Social Amy Singh2
  • 11 April 2024

Blog: Using data to improve customer services

P49 Social Jane Campbell2
  • 21 March 2024
  • Careers

Blog: Diversity in the Legal Services team

P49 Social Paul Hackett2 1
  • 19 March 2024

Blog: Improving services for residents

P49 Social Troy Francis2
  • 12 March 2024

Blog: A Simple Approach for Better Services

P49 Social William Miller2
  • 07 March 2024

Blog: Social Impact - a financial ally for our residents

P49 Social Vanessa Biddiss2
  • 04 March 2024

Blog: Helping residents to sustain their tenancies

1708966909647 7D18188f Db2a 48E4 8957 C386dbe81160 1
  • 29 February 2024

Blog: Investing in our homes

P49 Social Paul Day2
  • 26 February 2024

Blog: Mapping out the future

Douglas Silverstone
  • 16 February 2024

Technology: the engine of a merger

Puneet Rajput
  • 08 February 2024

Blog: Delivering effective resident governance

Helena Ingham
  • 06 February 2024

Blog: A merging opinion -  they work best when residents are at their heart

Jenny Poore
  • 28 January 2024

Blog: Reflecting on the successes and challenges of the merger journey

Brea Attrill
  • 26 January 2024

Blog: Hoping to achieve a balance in the relationship of equals

Colin Lydon (1)
  • 23 January 2024

Blog: Delivering an effective ASB handling service

Mij Rahman
  • 16 January 2024

Blog: Improving our data input

Dave Burton
  • 09 January 2024
  • Resident Involvement

Blog: The Resident Scrutiny Panel – our year one journey

Naomi Keyte
  • 09 January 2024

Blog: Listening to and acting upon residents’ feedback to shape our care services

Yvette Carter
  • 21 December 2023

Blog: Repairing trust

Image00009 Flipped
  • 18 December 2023
  • Sustainability

Our new Environmental Sustainability Strategy

P49 Social Paul Hackett2 1
  • 18 December 2023

Blog: The first 12 months of a merger

IMG 1168 (1)
  • 30 November 2023

Our annual review 2022-23

Featured in the photo (from left to right): Bunmi Atta (Director of Construction at Southern Housing), Mike Link (Chair of the ABE CLT), Cllr Michael Warden (Chair of Aldingbourne Parish Council) and Steve Underwood (Development Manager at Southern Housing).
  • 25 October 2023

New homes delivered at Wings Wood development in Chichester

2DLP8969
  • 19 September 2023
  • New developments

Final brick laid at New Kent Road development

Milestone At Southwark Development
  • 15 September 2023
  • New developments

Milestone at our Southwark development

Rosemary House
  • 18 July 2023
  • Sustainability

Topping out at The Green Quarter

The Mannings
  • 11 July 2023
  • Sustainability

Topping out at new low carbon housing project