Unpacking homeowners’ financial burden to adapting protected historic properties in Edinburgh: The case of window retrofits

With more than 10,000 listed buildings and 50 conservation areas, Edinburgh has one of the highest concentrations of historic buildings in the UK outside of London. At the same time, Edinburgh has a net zero ambition and climate strategy that aims to significantly reduce average household electricity and gas consumption. Whilst the cost burden to owners in general has been cited in existing literature as one of the barriers to improving energy efficiency in domestic properties even before the current cost-of-living crisis, homeowners of listed buildings and unlisted buildings in conservation areas face additional financial challenges due to their properties’ protected heritage characteristics.

This study examines different facets of the financial burden to retrofitting windows in protected historic residential properties in Edinburgh, using data from a 2023 City of Edinburgh Council public consultation aimed to understand homeowners’ experience adapting their protected properties for climate change. The consultation was carried out as an online questionnaire survey and received 431 validated responses (n = 431). Responses to the multiple-choice questions were analysed quantitatively and free-text comments were examined via thematic analysis.

Whilst the survey covers a wide range of adaptation and retrofit works from insulation to alternative energy, window improvement stood out as the most common issue. More than half (54%) of the respondents said they wish to retrofit their windows but face barriers, particularly the financial cost. Free-text comment analysis suggests that the financial barrier has multiple sources at different timescale: the upfront material, labour, and permission application costs, as well as the ongoing maintenance costs. The upfront cost is exacerbated by the requirement for period-appropriate materials in protected properties and the lack of financial support schemes such as government grants. Even the lack of non-financial resources such as skilled and trustworthy tradespeople can contribute to the overall financial burden.