§ 72. Mr. Dudley Smithasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what advice he is giving to district council housing authorities and housing associations regarding tenants who have only one system available for heating their premises; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Geoffrey FinsbergLocal housing authorities and housing associations are advised to have regard to domestic energy note No. 3, issued by the joint working party on heating and energy conservation in public sector housing. The note suggests possible remedies for causes of dissatisfaction among some tenants with electric heating systems, the only systems where there may be no other suitable heating system available. Among measures indicated are evaluation of complaints; advice to the tenant; improvement of the heating system and its controls; improvement of insulation and ventilation; and seeking changes in the tariff. The installation of an alternative heating system, which in the case of solid fuel would also require a class I flue, would often be expensive, but, if less radical measures were likely to prove inadequate, local housing authorities could consider this option, assessing whether any extra expenditure would be justified.