Thirty-six financial institutions, including Aviva, Schroders and Legal & General, with assets surpassing £1 trillion, have adopted an ESG standard for UK social housing. The Sustainability Reporting Standard for Social Housing (SRS) was launched in November 2020 and has so far been adopted by 68 housing providers of various sizes across the UK, which collectively manage more than 1.5 million homes. Sustainability for Housing (SfH), the group overseeing the ESG reporting standard for the social housing sector, has published a report outlining the impact ESG reporting is having on investments in UK social housing, as well as the sector’s approach to sustainability. More than half of investors and lenders think reporting against the SRS is becoming expected for housing providers, the report said, adding that the SRS should increase private investment into affordable housing to address the UK housing crisis while accounting for sustainability and net zero targets. Brendan Sarsfield, Chair of the SfH board, said: “Today’s report reflects the huge progress social housing providers have made on their ESG journey. The standard has provided the spark needed to improve the sector’s relationship with investors while starting on much needed ESG-focused work that will benefit residents […] I am immensely proud of the work done so far but today’s report represents the beginning of a long journey.”
