Council tenants living in 1,800 properties could see their heating and hot water bills cut by up 15 per cent after a range of energy efficiency measures were introduced.

Some homes will benefit from cavity wall installation, modern energy efficient boilers and bulk purchasing of gas ahead of rent increases.

A further 600 Wandsworth Council properties will have their bills frozen, or increased by one to four per cent, contrasting to the national average of nine per cent.

Councillors have also agreed to freeze rent for about 17,000 council tenants from April.

Councillor Paul Ellis, the council's cabinet member for housing, said: "We have unveiled a wide package of measures to protect our tenants.

"Our prudent investment in energy efficiencies and our decision on rent levels means we are keeping important day-to-day living costs down for hard-pressed local families.

"With many people feeling the pinch, these two pieces of good news will undoubtedly help ease the financial pressure on some of the borough’s lowest income families."


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