Landlord targets private market with solar arm

Published by Ross Macmillan for 24dash.com in Housing and also in Environment, Local Government

A housing association in the West Midlands has set up a solar panel installation arm to target private homeowners.

Black Country Housing Group (BCHG) - which manages some 1,500 homes has become fully accredited to install solar photovoltaic (solar PV) systems as part of the Government’s Microgeneration Certification Scheme.

The registered provider says that it still sees an opportunity for installations in the private sector despite the Government’s proposed cuts to the Feed-in-Tariff (FiT). 

The landlord is using its expert team to carry out work on its own housing stock as well as offering the service to private homeowners in Birmingham and the Black Country. 

Richard Baines (pictured), BCHG Director of Sustainability, said: “While the proposed halving of the FiT would undoubtedly have an impact on the national uptake of solar PV, even with this reduction homeowners will still be able to make more money out of their roofs than they could with many high street investment products. This gives us confidence that there is a viable business opportunity for us, whatever the outcome of the Government’s consultation.”

You can read the full story in next month's 24housing magazine.