Greenfields Community Housing helps residents aleviate the cost of fuel bills

Published by Amanda Bhavnani for Greenfields Community Housing in Housing and also in Bill Payments, Communities

Greenfields Community Housing is extremely aware of the rising cost of utility bills and has responded to this by working with partners to develop two schemes with the aim of reducing costs and making payments easier for their tenants that use oil-based heating systems.

The first scheme is the Rural Community Council of Essex (RCCE) oil-buying syndicate, which has already been successfully deployed by other Rural Community Councils acrossEngland. Local co-ordinators organise the fuel orders and reduce the amount of stress placed on the tenants who currently purchase their own fuel. During the few months the scheme has been operating inEssex, members have so far saved around £50 per 1,000 litres against the average price quoted on the day of purchase.

The second form of assistance available for Greenfields’ tenants is for them to receive financial support from Holdfast Credit Union.Holdfast enables tenants to spread the cost of their oil payments by opening a savings account and then borrowing up to three times the savings amount to use against their fuel bill. The 12-month loan is very low cost with only 2% interest on the outstanding balance applied per month, so this could be a favourable option for many tenants.

A Greenfields tenant who uses oil to heat their home, said: “I will take up Greenfields’ offer of being involved in the oil-buying syndicate. I appreciate any help towards paying my bills and this could not have come at a better time.”