Extra 800,000 Social Homes to Benefit from ECO Fund

The National Housing Federation (NHF) has welcomed the Government's move to make the new Energy Company Obligation (ECO) available for more types of energy efficiency works than planned, adding that 800,000 additional social households could now benefit.  Under the existing plans part of the £1.3 billion ECO fund - which is intended to 'top up' Green Deal finance for hard to treat homes where the cost of the energy measures exceeds repayments - was to be restricted to private homes because social homes had already benefitted from the Decent Homes programme.  However, 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. Read more on the NHF website.  Read more on the NHF website.