I think this is called "district heating" [0]? And such a thing is practised around the world.
For example, the article cited mentions that: "ADE estimates that 54 percent of energy used to produce electricity is being wasted via conventional power production, which relates to £9.5 billion ($US12.5 billion) per year." Siting housing next to power plants (and other plants with 'waste heat') is likely worth considering!