Tenants previously at risk of homelessness will save hundreds of pounds a year thanks to eco-friendly Romford homes, say two companies involved in the scheme. 

Lotus Housing, which provides private rental sector and transitional supported housing, and National Housing Group (NHG), an organisation working to tackle homelessness in the UK, have fitted out two properties with a host of energy-saving features. 

These include double glazing, electric Ecostrad radiators, energy efficient appliances, solar panels and more, changes they estimate will half the bills tenants would have had to pay otherwise, equating to around £539 saved per year. 

In total, 12 people will be moving into the new accommodation, all of whom are expected to be in by the end of January. Those doing so were all previously at risk of homelessness, for reasons including living in social housing which was closing down, and being discharged from hospital with no alternative accommodation. 

Stephen Wasserman, chief executive at NHG, said: “We have seen first-hand that the savings from living in energy-efficient homes make an incredible difference to a tenant’s disposable income, and ultimately their quality of life. 

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“More often than not when tenants move into a property after being homeless, they have nothing. While having somewhere to call home is a great start, it can be difficult to buy the essentials that so many of us take for granted.” 

Gurpaal Judge, chief executive at Lotus Housing, added: “Enabling our residents to save money on their bills helps them to stabilise their finances and better prepare for the future. 

“We’ve seen residents afford new gym memberships and healthier food as a result of their savings, and spend money on travel which can go a long way towards rebuilding broken relationships.”