A Caerphilly-based technology start-up has partnered with some of the UK's largest housing associations after securing a deal with telecoms company TalkTalk, offering affordable broadband and line rental to some of the UK’s most digitally excluded people.

Happus has partnered with the Northern Housing Consortium, a membership organisation supporting housing providers across the UK.

The deal, exclusively for social, council or housing association tenants, will now be promoted to residents by their landlords across the UK. Residents can have totally unlimited broadband and line rental starting from £10.85 per month for six months. All packages come with free installation, a free router and full customer support.

Happus already works in partnership with Circle Housing, Amicus Horizon, Affinity Sutton, Hyde Housing, Sovereign Housing, Link, InCommunities, Islington Council and RCT Homes.

Martin Adams, vendor manager at Smarterbuys, said: “Households without the internet miss out on £560 of savings each year, and between 60 and 70 per cent of education and work-related opportunities are only advertised on the internet, so it’s more important than ever to have online access.”

Across the UK, 16 per cent of households do not have access to the internet and more than six million people have never been online. This means there is a disturbing number of people who are instantly limited in their ability to learn, job search, engage in social media or save money by shopping online.

Many of those unable to get online are eligible for universal credit - which has already begun to roll out across the UK - but with no paper form, claimants will need to have reliable access to the online application.

Managing director of Happus David Williams said: “This is a fantastic opportunity for us to let people know that there is a real, affordable and sustainable option for people to get and stay online. We work with a number of councils and housing associations across the UK to help the digitally excluded get access to computer equipment, and our recent deal with TalkTalk is probably the lowest price for broadband and line rental out there.

“The ethos here at Happus is that internet access is a right, not a privilege, and we strive to offer all our customers a package that suits them, whatever their circumstances.”

Based in the Welsh Innovation Centre for Enterprise in Caerphilly, Happus offer discounted hardware packages for anyone representing a charity or claiming benefits, which combined with the new TalkTalk deal and full customer support, means the team are a one stop shop for digital inclusion.