Shapps urges action on energy bills by landlords
Tuesday, 25 October 2011 1:00 PM
Councils and housing associations could help save their tenants £500 off their energy bills and create thousands of jobs, according to housing minister Grant Shapps.
He says social landlords could make a real difference to tenants' lives by starting their own "pay as you save" scheme to improve the energy efficiency of their homes.
In a scheme similar to the government's Green Deal initiative, the landlords could vary their rents and service charges to gradually recoup the upfront costs of improvements such as better insulation. The rest of the costs could be met by two schemes that require energy suppliers to help customers in the most deprived areas and to promote low-carbon technologies.
On one pioneer project in Manchester, improvements are being made to 9,000 homes that could save tenants £500 from their energy bills and create 1,800 jobs.
Grant Shapps said: "At a time when tenants are feeling the pinch of high energy prices, it is more important than ever that social landlords use this opportunity to take the simple steps that could save their tenants hundreds of pounds through reduced bills."
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