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More problems with heat pumps |
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10 May 2013, 9:13 PM
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A housing association is investigating tenants’ high energy bills after becoming the latest to be hit by problems with a particular make of eco-friendly heat pump. The Accord Group is currently asking residents on a new 94-home estate in Coventry, called Tile Hill, to send in their bills over the past 12 months for evaluation.
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Residents on the estate say they have received massive energy bills which they are blaming on heat pumps made by Swedish manufacturer NIBE Energy Systems.
The housing association has already said it will replace the boilers in the larger four and five bedroom homes and will decide on whether to take this course of action in two and three bed properties after the residents’ bills have been reviewed. It is also taking advice on whether to launch legal proceedings against the manufacturer.
Accord started holding surgeries at the end of last month in Coventry for any tenants concerned about their bills and has appointed a specialist energy consultant to calculate the average heating bill for each house fitted with a NIBE heat pump.
A spokesperson said: ‘Once the consultant presents their findings, we will then review each customer’s bill against the average running cost for their home. We have established a hardship fund to assist those that are affected.’
She said the size of the fund would be calculated once more information is gathered on how many tenants are affected. Some high bills have turned out to be caused by energy tariffs or getting behind on payments to a supplier, she added.
‘We were very concerned to hear that some tenants have experienced high electricity costs at Tile Hill, but when we visited the properties recently it was clear that the fault did not lie with the technology,’ she said.
NIBE admitted there is a problem for tenants at the Tile Hill estate but said the fault lay with the housing association and developer.
‘We were very concerned to hear that some tenants have experienced high electricity costs at Tile Hill, but when we visited the properties recently it was clear that the fault did not lie with the technology,’ she said.
‘The key issues tenants are experiencing arise from the way units have been sized and installed by the housing association and its developer - a process NIBE has had no involvement with. As with any heating technology (gas, oil or other) – under-sizing or bad installation will cause problems for tenants.’ When installed correctly the pumps ‘offer an extremely energy-efficient, environmentally friendly and effective heating and hot water solution for UK residents,’ she said.
Other housing associations that have reported problems with the ventilation heat recovery pumps, which are designed to lower bills through an energy-efficient design, include Plus Dane, Bedfordshire Pilgrims Housing Association, Affinity Sutton, Westward Housing Group, Shoreline Housing, Accent Group and Sanctuary Housing Association. Some have ripped out the boilers and are considering legal action.
Ed Ruane, cabinet member for Housing at Coventry City Council, said: ‘I was shocked to hear that some residents [in Tile Hill] were paying electricty bills over £500 per month, several residents have now had pre-payment meters installed and are saddled with huge debts which has left them with a poor credit rating, unable to get a mortgage.’ He said he was aware other housing associations had had problems with the heat pumps.
‘Myself, as cabinet member for housing at Coventry Council and Geoffrey Robinson [MP for Coventry North West] have written to Mark Prisk, housing minister, Jack Dromey, shadow housing minister, the Housing Ombudsman, the Homes and Communities Agency, National House Building Council and National Housing Federation to raise concerns over how housing associations are choosing to respond to this problem.’
Credits:: Emily Twinch - Inside Housing
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