Tenants could be receptive to paying extra rent in order to fund energy efficiency improvements to their homes, junior housing minister Iain Wright has said.
Speaking at the Housing Forum conference in London, Mr Wright said the government was committed to a national retrofitting programme.
Asked whether he would support charging social tenants more rent to fund such work, he said tenants were 'willing to listen' to the idea. 'If you
have a mature discussion about what improvements need to be done, tenants are receptive to that.'
David Orr, chief executive of the National Housing Federation, said it was 'encouraging that ministers are keeping an open mind'.
'The sector clearly faces a sizeable challenge in retrofitting all of its existing stock and it would be premature to rule out any potential approach to financing it,' he said.
Abigail Davies, head of policy at the Chartered Institute of Housing, welcomed the discussion but warned that the government could end up paying through housing benefit.
John Tebbit, industry affairs director at the Construction Products Association, said Mr Wright's approach was 'common sense', but would be a drop in the ocean of funding.
The government is rumoured to be announcing funding for retrofitting existing homes in the Budget on 22 April.
Article Courtesy:- Inside Housing
