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We're not sure about you, but for us it feels like 2025 has passed in the blink of an eye. With just two weeks left until the festive break begins and three weeks left until we're officially in 2026, now's the time to tick off the last of the 2025 to-do list.
Before we launch into the content in this month's newsletter, we wanted to take a moment to say 'thank you' for your dedication and hard work to maximise delivery for your Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund Wave 2 projects throughout the year.
Your collective work to overcome challenges has seen energy efficiency upgrades successfully installed at thousands of homes.
For the families in these homes, the upgrades mean a warmer, more comfortable home, enabling many to confidently enjoy the festive/holiday season.
Well done on everything you've achieved this year and we look forward to continuing to work with you into the next 👏
In this month's newsletter, we share important reminders and updates including:
- tomorrow's DMS data submission deadline – your final submission for calendar year 2025
- a reminder on the importance of timely TrustMark lodgements
- an invitation to access the energy efficiency installation checker
- a note on upcoming closure dates for the department, delivery partner and Salix offices
- a reminder on the Friday 9 January deadline for December meetings with your SPOC/PSO
- opportunities to showcase your project by hosting us for a site visit
The last DMS submission of 2025 - due Friday 12 December
As we approach the festive break and prepare to close out the year, it’s time to complete one final task: submit your December monthly data management system (DMS) report.
Staying on top of your data reporting helps us track progress and keep operations running smoothly. Plus, your DMS data submission is used to inform the department's official statistics which are published monthly on the GOV.UK website.
As you should be aware, the deadline for this report falls on the tenth working day of the month. Grant recipients who have completed delivery of capital works should continue to submit/refine their monthly reports while delivery, financial and lodgement data is being confirmed.
The next deadline to submit your report is tomorrow, Friday 12 December.
You can find data reporting guidance, including a video walkthrough addressing common questions and challenges on the monthly reporting resources webpage of the SHDF Hive.
TrustMark lodgements - keep compliance on track before year-end
With the year drawing to a close, now’s the perfect time to ensure that all measures installed through the scheme are lodged via the TrustMark data warehouse.
TrustMark lodgement provides assurance that works meet PAS standards, protecting residents and maintaining quality.
Video guides to assist with lodgements can be found via the TrustMark website and tips and advice for TrustMark photo evidence can be found on our website.
As a part of project closure, our teams will work to verify and review your TrustMark and DMS data to ensure there are no errors, omissions or inconsistencies in your records. Your project cannot close until this process - called data reconciliation - is complete.
Forecasting and confirming key project dates
Thank you to all the grant recipients who have responded to their Salix project support officer (PSOs) to confirm their forecasted and/or confirmed 'tools down' and 'completion' dates.
We're requesting this information as, when your project reaches 'tools down', support from your single point of contact (SPOC) will be replaced with your Salix project support officer (PSO), who will be there to guide you through activities and tasks required to officially close.
Confirmation of these achievements is required in writing and your SPOC is still available to support while you’re delivering on-site.
- Your ‘tools down’ date is defined as: completion of on-site works/MS8 achieved
- Your ‘completion’ date is defined as: MS8 achieved + TrustMark lodgements complete
You can also visit the closure hub on the SHDF Hive for key information to support scheme closure and project completion.
Do you have access to the energy efficiency installation checker (EEIC)?
The energy efficiency installation checker is primarily a counter-fraud tool developed for use by grant recipients as part of eligibility and compliance checks to:
- Flag potential existing measures in proposed properties and enable resolution of fraudulent or erroneous duplicate funding
- Access TrustMark/MCS data to perform due diligence checks, ensuring measures installed under the scheme are appropriately lodged and compliant with scheme rules
- Use the energy performance certificate (EPC) data for preventing and detecting fraud, error and non-compliance, including analysing existing property and measure characteristics to identify anomalies
Grant recipients can get access to the installation checker by reaching out to their project support officer (PSO) for more information.
Note: to be provided with access to the EEIC, grant recipients will need to sign a data sharing agreement, agree to the user access policy terms and, if required, complete a form for super users.
Friday 9 January deadline for December meetings
We've extended the deadline for monthly meetings to acknowledge that the regular schedule of some monthly meetings has been impacted by the holiday period.
Monthly meetings for December 2025 must take place by 5pm, Friday 9 January 2026.
You should receive an updated invite from your single point of contact (SPOC)/Salix project support officer (PSO) to reflect this change.
If the alternate time proposed isn't suitable, please liaise with your SPOC/PSO as soon as possible to find a suitable time before this deadline.
Financial reconciliation and evidence checks
As outlined in your grant funding agreement (GFA), the delivery partner (DP) conducts regular financial evidence and reconciliation checks to ensure expected and confirmed project spend is aligned.
Please continue to proactively engage with the DP when evidence checks are required and prepare relevant documentation so this work can be completed with ease.
If you have any questions about the process, please speak first with your SPOC or PSO.
Office closure dates
Please be aware of the upcoming office closure dates for the department, delivery partner and Salix.
Dates shown are in addition to bank holidays (Thursday 25 and Friday 26 December 2025 and Thursday 1 January 2026).
Department
Delivery partner
- Operating with skeleton staff on the finance team from Monday 22 December 2025 to Friday 2 January 2026
- Grant recipients can still submit to the finance inbox during this time and the team will respond as quickly as possible
Salix
- Monday 29 and Tuesday 30 December
Please be aware that key contacts at each organisation may take additional leave around this time. Out of office automatic responses should provide details on anyone's return if you require assistance from someone specific.
Showcase your project by hosting us for a site visit
A site visit is an exciting opportunity to showcase your organisation's project, discuss challenges and opportunities and celebrate successful outcomes for your residents.
If you’re interested in hosting us, please complete the form below and one of our team will contact you to arrange next steps.
Seasonal successes and winter wins – how do you keep delivery moving?
Cold weather, shorter days and festive breaks can slow things down. If your team has found - or is finding - smart ways to stay on track, we'd love to hear about it.
Share your seasonal success by reaching out to our Learning Community and tell us how your project tackles challenges during of the winter months.
Be a part of what's next – how to stay in touch
Whether you've reached tools down or if you're ready for project close – we want to stay connected with you.
Keep receiving news, latest case studies, industry best practice, knowledge sharing opportunities and more by opting in to our Learning Community mailing list.
Unsure if you've missed a communication?
The historic communications webpage on the SHDF Hive details an overview of key communications sent to grant recipients by us (Salix) or the department.
If you're unable to locate or didn't receive a communication listed on the page, please contact your SPOC.
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