At an event attended by councillors in Lochend, residents and members of Living Rent highlighted that unless costs come down, homeowners could be left in debt, private tenants could be evicted, and council tenants left without the necessary improvements. 

Council tenants, private tenants and homeowners have jointly called for the scheme to be changed so that costs are reduced and communication is clearer.

The retrofit scheme was originally proposed in 2018 to address the poorly insulated and maintained housing stock across Edinburgh. After being piloted in Wester Hailes, it started in Lochend in 2024, focusing on mixed-tenure buildings. Many of the homes are in a state of disrepair, with damp and mould among the issues. 

The Mixed Tenure Improvement Service is a scheme that will insulate and repair homes in Lochend and Restalrig, making them more energy efficient and easier to heat. The scheme is designed to bring properties up to the Energy Efficiency Standard for Social Housing (EESSH2), which requires all council houses to meet the standard by 2032.

The scheme was introduced as necessary repairs were not progressing and the housing stock was not meeting necessary energy efficiency standards, in an area of Edinburgh ranking in the bottom 5% nationally of the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation.

Residents initially celebrated when the retrofit scheme was announced; however, many quickly found there to be a host of problems with implementation. 

According to Living Rent, the joint ownership of affected buildings between council properties and private flats has resulted in unaffordable bills. 

Though the council will pay for the scheme for council tenants, for people who are homeowners in the block, the costs of the scheme will bear a huge financial burden, with some homeowners receiving estimates of over £40,000. Initial communications about the project set out potential options for residents, which include using their savings. 

Loans with the council’s Scheme of Assistance payment plan, which offers interest rate loans of 4-6%, are also available.

Living Rent says that many residents do not have thousands of pounds in savings, nor do residents consider it fair to pay interest on a loan they might have no choice but to take out. 

The union added that homeowners who are minority owners in the block will have no say in whether work goes ahead and could be forced to take on debt or to sell their homes to the council, in some cases at a loss. If council tenants are in the minority, Living Rent said the work is likely to be voted against, leaving some tenants paying the same rent for housing that is poorer quality than neighbouring blocks. 

And for private tenants, they have been and will continue to be evicted from their homes as landlords decide to sell up rather than pay the bills, Living Rent said. 

At last week’s event in Lochend, tenants’ union members presented a report on their experience of the retrofit scheme, making the case that lessons should be learnt from its rollout, as the need for housing and energy efficiency improvements becomes more pressing across the country.

Members of the tenants’ union also presented the report to the Just Transition Commission, an independent advisory body to the Scottish Government responsible for providing scrutiny and advice on putting justice at the heart of climate action. The report summarises the multiple issues residents in Lochend have faced, while providing suggestions on a way forward should this scheme be rolled out other areas of Edinburgh and across the country, as local authorities and government try to combat the joint housing and climate emergencies.

Laura Dalgetty, Living Rent Lochend campaigns officer, said: “We have campaigned tirelessly to make this building scheme a fair deal for our community: homeowners, council and private tenants alike. We invited MSPs and councillors to hear how this work is affecting our lives and what we think could be done to make this a positive experience for other communities. Their absence (was) deeply felt. For retrofits to work and actually involve the community, our politicians would do well to start by taking our experience and expertise seriously.”

Housing, Homelessness and Fair Work convener Lezley Marion Cameron told SHN: “Bringing all our housing stock up to a good condition, making homes energy efficient, warm, and affordable to heat is very important, both for tenants and for owners in these blocks.

“The reality is that homes which are not repaired and maintained will be at risk of further deterioration and will cost more to fix in the future.

“We engage with owners and tenants from the earliest opportunity to discuss options and costs and continue to offer support throughout the scheme.

“Private owners are responsible for paying for their share of repairs, but I appreciate how challenging this is so we’ve secured significant funding from Scottish Government, which will help people with some of the financial strain.”