Retrofitting Scotland's private rented sector: Challenges and landlord attitudes

Abstract

Retrofitting Scotland's private rented sector to achieve energy efficiency standards presents significant challenges, not only because of the high proportion of flats (67%) and older properties (42%), but also due to wider technical, socio-economic, and regulatory constraints that demand further research. This study aims to deepen understanding of these challenges and to provide insights into private landlords' attitudes towards retrofitting. Using a mixed-methods online survey, ten interconnected challenges are identified, explaining their root causes and how they influence landlords' decisions and retrofit strategies. The integration of energy compliance data and cost-based retrofit scenarios into the methodology expands current perspectives on the retrofit challenges faced by private landlords. The findings provide valuable evidence to support targeted improvements in the private rented dwellings sector by addressing the key retrofit challenges, including difficulties associated with hard-to-treat dwellings, high retrofit costs, flaws in the compliance energy assessment, and complications with mixed tenure retrofit. These challenges shape private landlords' attitudes towards retrofit approaches, reflected in two main patterns: 1) hesitation to undertake retrofits due to policy uncertainty and perceived post-retrofit property risks; and 2) a low preference to adopt key energy efficiency and carbon-reduction measures such as fabric upgrades and heat pumps. This study highlights the need for robust policy design, financial incentives, and tailored support to enable effective retrofitting across the sector.