SfH launches second annual review of SRS

Sustainability for Housing has launched its second annual review of the Sustainability Reporting Standard for Social Housing (SRS or the Standard).

Since 2020, the SRS as provided the sector with a consistent, comparable, and transparent way of telling its ESG story.

This year's report demonstrates the value of the SRS to the sector, while demonstrating how far we have already come together.

The number of housing associations that have produced ESG reports during the year increased by 30%.

Report highlights

As of 1 June 2023, there were:

94 housing provider adopoters, accounting for 2.2 million homes axross the UK, equivalent to 45% of England's housing stock.
36 funder adopters who provide the vast majority of the c.£130 billion of private finance to the sector.
A further 30 endorsers of the SRS.

A poll, based on feedback from 84 organisations found:

All funders believe the SRS has the potential to encourage more finance into the sector.
59% of housing providers said they were not asked for additional information from lenders beyond their SRS data.
Two-thirds of funders said the SRS elped tem support housing providers in achieving favourable financing terms.
Almost a third of HAs believe the SRS helped them obtain ESG-linked finance
84% of housing providers who reported against the SRS found it easier this year than the previous one.
The SRS accelerated the implementation of planned ESG actions for 57% of respondents.
635 of funders using the framework believe it has strengthened their relationship with HAs, ;leading to more in-depth discussions on specific ESG measures and targets.