The Scottish Government has announced an additional £18 million will be made available this year to help households install energy efficient measures and reduce their heating bills, bringing the total support on offer through Home Energy Scotland to £50 million over 2021/2022.
People are being urged to seek support and advice from Home Energy Scotland to help make their homes warmer and reduce their heating bills, on average by up to £300.
Financial support worth up to £5,000 is also available to make houses more energy efficient through improvements such as home insulation, double glazing or a new heating system.
Home Energy Scotland also supports households with practical advice and, where appropriate, install energy efficient measures - making homes more energy efficient and saving householders money.
Minister for Zero Carbon Buildings, Patrick Harvie, said: “As the colder weather returns and given the concern around rising energy bills, we want to ensure that people are aware of the support available to keep their homes warm this winter."
He continued: “Home Energy Scotland offers advice, support and funding to help people make energy saving improvements, helping them reduce their energy costs. The free impartial advice and support is available for anyone concerned about paying their energy bills and we would urge people struggling with their fuel bills to get in touch with Home Energy Scotland.”
Recent research by Home Energy Scotland shows that 70 per cent of people in Scotland feel concerned about energy bills rising, with almost two thirds using more energy than usual during the first 12 months of the pandemic.
The research also found that 59 per cent of Scots have noticed a worrying rise in their energy bills already.
Head of Home Energy Scotland, Harry Mayers, said: “Some 24,000 households across the country have already benefited from new energy efficient measures, like a new heating system or insulation, by getting in contact with Home Energy Scotland. But with people spending more time at home over the past 18 months due to coronavirus, energy usage has been greater than ever.
"We therefore want to be able to help even more people to make energy saving improvements to their home.”
A home that isn’t well insulated can lose more than 50 per cent of its heat through its roof and walls, so making improvements can help your finances and make your home more energy efficient, comfortable and cheaper to heat.
What is the Warmer Homes Scotland programme?
The Scottish Government’s Warmer Homes Scotland programme offers funding and support to households struggling to stay warm and keep on top of energy bills.
Who is the programme for?
Warmer Homes Scotland is designed to help people make their homes warmer and more comfortable by installing a range of energy-saving improvements.
The Scottish Government is offering assistance to homeowners and private sector tenants struggling to heat their home, who have lived in their property for at least 12 months, and who meet the eligibility criteria.
What is available through the programme?
The improvements offered will depend on a survey of the property.
Assessors will come to your home to survey it and recommend suitable improvements, which could include a range of insulation and heating and in most cases all costs will be met by the Scottish Government.
It’s important to note that all home improvements funded by Warmer Homes Scotland must be managed by the approved installer.
In some cases a customer contribution will be required for certain more expensive improvements, such as solid wall insulation.
An interest-free loan is available to help meet the costs of the customer contribution. The loan, which is managed by the Energy Saving Trust, is subject to a credit check, and successful loans will include an administration fee.
Potential home improvements include:
- Wall insulation
- Loft insulation
- Draught-proofing
- Central heating - including new boilers
- Renewables
How does it work for private tenants?
If you are a private sector tenant your landlord will be made aware of the improvements that can be funded by the Scottish Government and which ones they may be required to fund directly - their permission is required to be given prior to any improvements being installed.
Private Rented Sector properties covered by the statutory Repairing Standard will no longer receive improvements that a landlord is legally obliged to provide - these customers will still be eligible for other improvements available under the programme if they are recommended for the property.
Who is eligible?
To qualify for Warmer Homes Scotland the household must meet all of the following criteria:
- Be homeowners or the tenants of a private-sector landlord
- Live in the home as their main residence
- Have lived there for at least 12 months
- Live in home with an energy rating of 67 or lower and which is not more than 230 square metres in floor size
- Live in a home that meets the tolerable living standard set out in the Housing (Scotland) Act 2006 Householders must not have received support for energy efficiency improvements through Warmer Homes Scotland funding in the last five years
For the full list of criteria requirements and conditions, visit the Home Energy Scotland website here.
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