Retrofitting tenement buildings in Scotland: a practical guide

The tenement is one of Scotland's most recognisable and best-loved housing types. There are approximately 186,000 traditional tenements built before 1919 across the country, with Glasgow and Edinburgh each home to roughly 69,000. Whole districts of both cities are defined by them. 

As Scotland's energy efficiency regulations and net zero targets continue to evolve, with the Scottish Government's Heat in Buildings Strategy setting the ambition for all homes to be highly energy efficient by 2033. Attention is increasingly turning to how these buildings can be successfully retrofitted. Retrofitting a multi-storey traditional building is a fundamentally different challenge from a standard domestic retrofit, and getting it wrong can cause lasting damage to both the building fabric and the health of its occupants. Multi-occupancy blocks bring mixed tenure, differing preferences and budgets, and stricter fire safety requirements that narrow available options; partial façade treatments are rarely viable, and an apartment’s position within the block dictates which measures are even applicable. 

In this guide, we'll explain what makes tenement retrofit different, the four pillars of a successful approach, and how the right materials and systems can deliver warmth, health and efficiency without compromising the building's historic character.