The National Housing Federation welcomed the Government's announcement to make the new Energy Company Obligation (ECO) available for more types of energy efficiency works than before.

The Federation has been arguing strongly that ECO as proposed is unfair, with the often low income and vulnerable residents of social housing potentially paying for it with little prospect of benefiting. This concern was recently echoed by the government commissioned final report of the Hills' review of fuel poverty.

-- Advertisement --

ECO, paid for by a levy on all fuel bills, will be available from the end of 2012 to enable energy efficient retrofit on hard to treat properties or for low income households. The Deputy Prime Minister has announced that support will be opened up for more types of energy efficiency works - including those on hard to treat cavity walls which are well represented in social housing - and that more targeted support is also being considered for those on a low income, including those in social housing.

National Housing Federation chief executive David Orr said: "We have long been making the case that ECO should be fair and open to social housing residents, as they will help to pay for it. The Government's announcement to broaden the type of works eligible will potentially mean an additional 800,000 households in social housing will be able to benefit from the lower bills and warmer homes they need."

(CD/GK)