Relations between neighbours could turn “toxic” if communal heating and hot water charges on Camden estates are not scrapped.
This is the warning from Ursula Huws, who says households on the Coopers Lane estate in Somers Town who are trying to conserve energy feel they are being used as “cash cows” to subsidise those who are not.
Camden Council has committed to rolling out heat meters on some of its estates so leaseholders and tenants can be charged for the energy they use, rather than paying a flat rate.
But most of Coopers Lane estate is not currently eligible for these meters, including the communal heating system in Ursula’s block.
Ursula, who moved to the estate two years ago, said: “An awful lot of my neighbours are people worrying about the cost of living and they are actually trying really hard to save energy.
“So, there’s a real risk that that turns into demonising your neighbours – you see a window open in the middle of the winter and you think, ‘I’m paying for all their heating’.
“It can become quite toxic quite quickly.”
She added that although she loves the principle of 'from each according to his ability, to each according to his needs', the current system is "terribly unfair".
This paper understands that heat meters will be installed in one block at Coopers Lane – Clyde Court.
A spokesperson for the council told Ham & High that installing heat meters in Ursula’s block “currently does not meet the test for value for money”, but that this would be reviewed next year.
Under national regulations updated at the end of 2020, some communal heating systems can be exempt from individual metering if it is determined installation would not be cost-effective.
A resident on the Brunswick estate in Bloomsbury has also urged the council to install heat meters to help tackle the “climate crisis”.
Caroline Mawer, who has lived on the estate for the last few years, said: “I think [heat meters] encourage people to think [about the energy they use] – we’re in a climate crisis.
“I’m disabled so I’m at home quite a lot so in some ways I might say that a flat rate might be better for me but I think it’s important that we all think about it.
“I do wear loads of clothing rather than have the heating on. I’m not trying to give out prizes but I do think there should be some inducement not to be stupid with the environment.”
Caroline added that she hoped the council would also install solar panels and heat pumps on its estates to help tackle climate change.
This paper understands that the Brunswick estate is exempt from individualised charging under national heat network regulations as more than 10% of leaseholders have a provision in their lease which would prevent billing based on consumption.
A Camden Council spokesperson said: “We are committed to installing heat meters wherever possible to give residents greater control over their bills.
“So far, we have installed around 3,000 heat meters in residents’ homes.
“We have also developed a programme of retrofit works to make all our homes more energy efficient and have a number of pilot projects on site. This is all part of the council’s Climate Action Plan.
They added: “Both the Brunswick Estate and parts of the Coopers Lane Estate are currently exempt from heat meters until national legislation. The next review of heating on these estates is next year.”
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