Affinity Water and North Hertfordshire Homes have achieved a UK first to secure discounted water bills for tenants who are eligible for Affinity Water’s low income tariff.

 The saving is estimated to be around £87 per annum per household depending on the rateable value of the property.

 Around 3,000 tenants will qualify for the discount. Water charges are collected on behalf of Affinity Water by North Hertfordshire Homes and tenants will receive a letter from the housing association in April confirming the discounted charge.

 Vincent Muldoon, Director of Customer Relations and Business Services, Affinity Water said:

“As a community focused company, we are delighted to be able to support vulnerable customers who are least able to pay their bills. The 3000 tenants from North Hertfordshire Homes are the first group of customers migrated to our discounted “LIFT” social tariff. They will be joining approximately 17,000 customers on LIFT who are already benefitting from lower water bills.”

The standing charge and rateable water charge is being replaced with a single, discounted charge of £90 which will save households approximately £87 per annum. The North Hertfordshire Homes/Affinity Water contract is set for 6 years - NHH will implement the discount with effect from April 1, 2015.

The water discount process will be reviewed when Universal Credit is introduced to the region by the Government, if sooner than the two year review.

The scheme is supported by Sir Oliver Heald, MP, who said:

“I was delighted to meet the senior management of Affinity Water to discuss their agreement with North Hertfordshire Homes to offer discounted water bills to 3000 tenants on lower incomes. I congratulate our water company and our biggest housing association on this imaginative innovation, which will help many of my constituents.”