Against a background of rising energy prices and a shortage of housing, void specialists Energy Angels has reported that it has saved housing providers and their tenants more than £25 million, boosted housing stock availability and helped to tackle fuel poverty.
Since its launch 12 years ago, the Wolverhampton-based company has partnered with numerous housing providers to provide its free and innovative service to bring empty properties back into use, with some 140,000 properties now having been made available for occupancy quickly and efficiently.
Energy Angels works to reduce the time that a property is not delivering rental income for landlords while also providing support and advice on energy usage for tenants and an online switching service which has saved thousands of households an estimated £300 per year.
Lewis Taylor, founder and managing director, Energy Angels, said, “Tackling homelessness and fuel poverty are the key drivers behind Energy Angels. With housing demand constantly out-stripping supply, it’s vital to get voids turned around and available for new tenants as quickly as possible. This not only protects housing providers’ rental income but it also provides much needed homes for families.
“When we started 12 years ago, there were only a handful of energy suppliers in the UK and although the ‘big six’ continue to dominate the market, the growth in independent energy suppliers means that there is now a much wider choice for tenants. While a wider choice can sometimes cause confusion, especially for vulnerable households, Energy Angels helps to simplify the energy switching process for families from the day they move in and throughout their tenancies.”