Choice Housing has become the first social landlord in Northern Ireland to adopt sector reporting standards developed by Sustainability for Housing (SfH).
SfH is the board that oversees the Sustainability Reporting Standard (SRS) for social housing.
SfH launched the Sustainability Reporting Standard (SRS) in November 2020 to provide a common framework. Housing associations and others can use it to present their environmental, social and governance (ESG) performance, making it easier for investors and other stakeholders to see.
Choice Housing, one of the largest housing associations in Northern Ireland, said reporting on ESG performance will help reduce its environmental impact and produce social value.
Lawrence Jackson, the housing provider’s director of corporate services, said: “Our ESG reporting not only measures our performance against set industry-led goals, but it is a clear pathway to how we can minimise our impact on the environment, deliver social value and support thriving sustainable communities.
“The commitments we make through ESG are all measured against the SRS which sets out key criteria for reporting that allows for a common framework to be used across the sector. This facilitates an industry consensus around measuring and evaluating the contribution of housing associations in Northern Ireland whilst raising awareness of the important work the sector contributes to this area.”
The 12,000-home landlord joins more than 130 other organisations in adopting the standard, including housing providers and funders across the UK.
Brendan Sarsfield, SfH’s chair, said: “It’s fantastic to welcome our first housing association from Northern Ireland to the SRS community.
“The decision by Choice Housing to adopt the standard demonstrates the power and value of a sustainability disclosure framework that has been created by social housing providers and their funders to reflect the particular needs of the sector, and reduce the burden of ESG-related reporting and disclosure.
“Housing associations come in lots of shapes and sizes, but they all share that inherent commitment to social purpose, delivering much-needed housing and services to people and communities. Their ESG credentials are built into their ethos and business model, which is why they are so attractive to funders making ESG-focused investments.”
Image credit: David Gyung – Shutterstock
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