Pensioners residing in two Walsall tower blocks are expressing outrage and feelings of neglect after their social landlord sharply increased heating and hot water charges overnight. The residents of Woodall and Hamilton House, both located in Bloxwich, have seen unit gas prices jump from 4p per kWh to between 13.75p and 17.67p per kWh following the installation of central heat networks in 2021 that replaced individual boilers.
Walsall Housing Group (WHG) removed individual gas boilers from each flat, citing safety concerns, and introduced centralized heat networks. While WHG initially subsidized much of the heating costs, citing an unsustainable financial burden, they recently hiked prices to reflect the full cost of energy use. Despite this, WHG insists the current charges remain below the national average.
Residents like 73-year-old David Turner and 78-year-old Bill Froggatt say they anticipated some increase, but the sharp price rise far exceeds their expectations. David describes his efforts to conserve heat, yet still faces daily costs around £3. Meanwhile, 96-year-old Kathleen Haughton questioned the logic behind the steep increases following a community meeting.
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Local councillor Mark Statham criticized the uneven pricing between the two blocks, suggesting discrepancies arise from cost recovery calculations rather than actual energy usage or fees. Statham has also accused WHG of resistance to transparent communication, noting that promised data to justify price hikes has yet to be provided.
Compounding residents’ frustration, Hamilton House experienced a 16-hour heating outage last weekend, reportedly a frequent issue. Tenants feel they are being treated like “second class citizens,” fearing repercussions if they voice complaints.
WHG corporate director Rob Gilham defended the price changes, emphasizing that no profit will be made from heat supply and that the network was essential for tenant safety by removing individual boilers. He assured that support is available for those struggling with costs, including confidential advice, and maintained that no tenant will be penalized for raising concerns.
As energy costs rise nationally, residents of these Walsall tower blocks face steep increases alongside service challenges, fueling mistrust and anxiety about their heating future.