Home Energy Scotland Grant and Loan

Find out how to turn your house into a cosy, efficient home with grants and/or an interest-free loan funded by the Scottish Government.

Colourful houses in Edinburgh during the summer

Home Energy Scotland Grant and Loan Scheme overview

The Home Energy Scotland Grant and Loan Scheme provides homeowners in Scotland a grant, interest free loan or a combination of both to install clean heating systems and energy efficiency measures.

For clean heating systems such as heat pumps, grant funding of up to £7,500 is available, with an additional £7,500 of funding available as an optional interest free loan.

For energy efficiency measures such as insulation, grant funding is available up to 75% of the combined cost of measures up to a maximum grant amount of £7,500. The remainder of funding requested can be taken up as an optional interest-free loan up to the maximum funding limit per improvement.

An uplift of £1,500 is available for rural and island homes to both the clean heating and energy efficiency grants, meaning rural households can claim up to £18,000 in grant funding. 
 

Who is eligible? 

You can currently apply for the Home Energy Scotland Grant and Loan Scheme if the property is an existing property located in Scotland and you are the homeowner – you own the home you live in and it is your only or primary private residence.  

You do not need to be in receipt of benefits to qualify for the Home Energy Scotland Grant and Loan Scheme.  

How much funding can you get? 

Measure Loan funding per improvement  Grant funding per improvement 
Air/ground/water to water source heat pumps £7,500 £7,500 
District heating scheme connection £7,500 Not available 
Solar thermal £5,000 Not available 
Hybrid solar PV / water heating £5,000 Not available 
Wood fuelled (biomass) boilers (and eligible stoves)²£7,500 £7,500 
Wind turbine£2,500 Not available 
Hydro turbine¹£2,500 Not available 

¹ If installing a renewables system, you must use both a Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) installer, and a MCS or Solar-Keymark certified product, except for micro-hydro systems which will be assessed on a case-by-case basis. We would recommend seeking advice from SEPA and using an installer recommended by the British Hydro Association that is also a member of the Renewables Energy Consumer Code (RECC) or equivalent.

² The grant/loan does not support non-automated, non-pellet stoves or room heaters. Written evidence must also be provided as to why a heat pump and high heat retention storage heaters are not suitable.

Primary improvementLoan funding per improvementGrant funding per improvement
Solid wall insulation (external and internal)£2,500£7,500
Flat roof or room-in-roof insulation£1,000£3,000
Loft, cavity and underfloor insulation£500£1,500
Insulated doors£4,500Not available
High heat retention storage heaters£5,500£2,500
Warm air units£5,000Not available
Double glazing**, triple glazing**, secondary glazing** £8,000Not available
Secondary improvement***Loan funding per improvementGrant funding per improvement
Cylinder thermostat, draught proofing, wastewater heat recovery system, hot water tank jacket£125£375
Heating controls£150£450

**Only available for improving single glazing NOT for replacement/improvement of existing double. triple or secondary glazing. Where double or triple glazing is recommended but the applicant can only afford secondary glazing, we will accept an application for secondary glazing – the applicant must provide a cover letter with their application explaining this.  

***Secondary improvements are only eligible if combined with an application for a primary improvement or renewable technology. 

About the rural uplift

A rural uplift is available to households in remote rural and island areas, as well as off-gas accessible rural areas, as defined by the Scottish Government’s Urban Rural Classification.

Our Home Energy Scotland advisors will inform you if your property is eligible for this uplift.

Funding available

Funding is allocated on a first-come, first-served basis and is subject to availability. Funding is reserved for applicants once a written offer of funding has been issued, not on application to the scheme.

Funding agreements are valid for up to nine months.

Terms and conditions

For more information on the conditionality of measures, including on the funding available and eligibility, you can read the Home Energy Scotland Grant and Loan Scheme terms and conditions.

Home Energy Scotland Grant and Loan Scheme process and choosing an installer

Find out more on the Home Energy Scotland Grant and Loan Scheme process, including a step-by-step guide for submitting an application, claiming funding, how to contact the Service Delivery Team with application queries and choosing an installer.

Step 1 – Contacting Home Energy Scotland

The first step is contacting Home Energy Scotland, an advice service funded by the Scottish Government. If you would like to receive advice over the phone, contact the service by calling our free phone line on 0808 808 2282. Our lines are open Monday - Friday, 8am - 8pm, and Saturday 9am - 5pm.

If you would like to receive advice over email, complete our contact form and select 'email' when asked how you'd like us to get back to you. We'll be in touch within 10 working days.

Step 2 – Receiving advice

During initial advice you will be asked questions about your property’s characteristics, occupancy behaviour and personal circumstances to determine which funding scheme you are eligible for and is best suited to your needs.

Your advisor will walk you through the scheme’s key conditions and important information and refer you to the scheme. If you prefer to receive a paper application, please inform your advisor who will organise this.

If the improvements you wish to install are recommended on the Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) for your property and are within Home Energy Scotland Grant and Loan Scheme conditions, your adviser can send you a referral to the funding application and you can continue to the application process for the Home Energy Scotland Grant and Loan Scheme. 

If you wish to install clean heating and other renewable systems and you require a specialist recommendation report, your advisor will refer you to the renewables specialist team. You will receive a call back from a renewables specialist who will create a specialist recommendation report. After receiving the report, you can continue your application for the Home Energy Scotland Grant and Loan Scheme.

Step 3 – Application referral

Two working days after your initial call with a Home Energy Scotland advisor, you will receive an email with an invitation link to begin the application process.
 

Step 1 – Creating an online application account

The link from the email referral will take you to the portal’s invitation page where you can register your account.

After registering, the customer portal can then be used to access your application form.

Step 2 – Filling in application form

In stage 1 of the application form, you will be asked to read and agree to the scheme terms and conditions and will be prompted to confirm that your installation works won’t commence until a written funding offer is issued by the Service Delivery Team.

The application system allows you to submit the required documents and communicate with the Service Delivery Team through the portals messaging system. Your progress will be saved in each section so you can leave and return to the form at any point if you need to gather further information or documents.

To successfully submit your application, you will need to provide the following documents:

  • Suitable recommendation report for all the improvements you are applying for, including an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) and/or a Home Energy Scotland specialist recommendation report.
  • Itemised quote(s) from your chosen installer(s) for the improvements you are applying for.
  • Any additional documents specific to the improvements you are applying for. You can refer to the terms and conditions for detailed requirements or ask our Service Delivery Team for further information.

Step 3 – Application processing time

After you have successfully submitted your application form, we will aim to process it within 10 working days.

If your application is missing required supporting documentation, or we need to request clarification on any of the provided information, the processing timescale will be extended.

You can view the status of your application and contact the team with information and queries through the portal.

Step 4 – Funding offer and installation works

After receiving a written funding offer you will need to review the details and sign the funding agreement electronically within 14 days. Your installation works can then start.

After signing your funding agreement, you will have 9 months to complete all the required installation works. 

Deposit

We can offer a deposit payment for the material costs of clean heating and renewable systems. You can claim up to 60% of the funding for each system you have applied for.

You will need to submit your drawdown claim through the online portal and confirm deposit amounts by submitting a quote or letter from your installer(s) which clearly shows the requested amounts.

Drawdown claims are not available for energy efficiency installations.

Step 1 – Claiming your funding 
    
You can claim your funding per measure as installations are completed. This is to allow individual installers to be paid without having to wait for all works to be completed.

You need to submit claim request through the online portal and provide the following documents:

  • Invoice for the completed work.
  • Post EPC - The post-installation EPC cannot recommend the measures which have been installed under the application.
  • Payment account information should be provided in your customer portal profile before submitting your claim form.
  • Renewable Installer Finder review (renewable installations only).
  • MCS certificate (renewable installations only).

For some measures and circumstances further documentation may be required, you can refer to the terms and conditions for detailed requirements or ask our Service Delivery Team for further information.

Step 2 – Claim processing times

We aim to process claims within 10 working days after submitting all required claim documentation.

The processing time may take longer if we need to request additional documentation or need clarification on submitted documents.

Step 3 – Receiving the funding

Once your claim is approved, we will process your payment using BACS transfer which can take between three and five working days.

It is your duty to pay your installer after receiving funding payments to your account. Energy Saving Trust is not liable to provide funding directly to installers. We will also require you to submit proof of payment within 60 days of receiving your funding. This can be a bank statement or receipt from the installer. 
 

For any queries relating to your application or claim, you can contact the Service Delivery Team in the following ways:

  • The message function on your customer portal (once you have been successfully referred).
  • Email: servicesdeliveryscotland@est.org.uk
  • Telephone: 0808 108 9414 (Monday to Friday 9am - 5pm, excluding Scottish bank holidays).

The Services Delivery Team’s working hours are 9am - 5pm Monday to Friday and they aim to respond to you within three working days. 

If you are applying for the Home Energy Scotland Grant and Loan Scheme, the installer you choose must meet specific requirements for the measures you intend to have installed.

We strongly recommend you do the following:

  • Contact at least three installers for quotes to give you choice and to ensure good value for money.
  • Make sure your chosen installer is fully qualified and, if possible, accredited with a relevant industry body and/or trade federation.
  • Ask installers what guarantees they will provide for the quality of their work and what warranties they supply with the products.

Energy efficiency measures

Where using Home Energy Scotland Grant and Loan Scheme funding to install solid wall, underfloor, flat roof or room-in-roof insulation, your installer is required to be registered with TrustMark for the measures you intend to have installed.

If you are unable to locate a TrustMark registered installer, you may use a Green Deal certified installer.

You can find installers on Trustmark’s website and on the Green Deal Oversight and Registration Body website.  

For all other energy efficiency measures, there is no requirement to use a specific installer. 

Clean heating and renewable systems

Where using Home Energy Scotland Grant and Loan Funding to install a clean heating or renewable system, your installer and the product must be certified under the Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) for the system they're installing (except for micro-hydro systems).

You can search for MCS-certified installers in your area and read customer reviews on Energy Saving Trust's Renewables Installer Finder. For a full list of MCS-certified installers, visit the MCS website.

Applications for hydro systems will instead be assessed on a case-by-case basis and we recommend using an installer accredited by the Renewable Energy Consumer Code (RECC) or recommended by the British Hydro Association.

Heat network connections

For heat network connections, the installer of the connection must be approved by the scheme owner/operator.

Home Energy Scotland Grant and Loan Scheme important information

There are important terms and conditions when applying for funding through the Home Energy Scotland Grant and Loan Scheme.

The full terms and conditions can be seen here.

  • Funding is allocated on a first-come, first-served basis and is subject to availability, or until the end of the financial year – whichever is sooner. 
  • Funding is reserved for applicants once a written offer of funding has been issued, not on application to the scheme. Applications will be processed in order of submission date.
  • After we receive your application, we’ll assess whether you're eligible. If your application is successful, we will send you a written offer of funding. 
  • You cannot start work on any installations until you’ve received the funding offer in writing, funding cannot be granted retrospectively. 
  • If you receive a funding offer this financial year you have up to nine months to carry the work out and claim funding. Applicants must inform the Service Delivery Team if an extension request is required, which will be considered by the Scottish Government on a case-by-case basis. Your offer of funding will expire at the end of the nine month claim period.
  • You may be able to combine Home Energy Scotland Grant and Loan Scheme funding with other schemes and incentives; eligibility is not indicative of eligibility for any other programmes of support. Visit our contact us webpage for options on how to get in touch with the Home Energy Scotland advice service for more information. 
  • If you’re applying for any loan funding, we will carry out affordability and credit checks.
  • If your application for loan funding is successful, you’ll need to pay an administrative fee of 1.5% of the total loan value - up to a maximum of £150 for each application.
  • You choose how long to take to repay the loan – up to the following maximum number of years:
    • Under £5,000: 5 years
    • £5,000 - £9,999: 10 years
    • More than £10,000: 12 years
  • Repayments begin after you have received a payment from us.
  • An acceptable energy report must recommend the improvements being applied for and be included with the application. 
    • Energy efficiency improvements: Energy Performance Certificate (EPC).
    • Renewables system: an EPC or a report issued by a Home Energy Scotland advisor.
  • To see if you already have an EPC for your home, or to search for EPC assessors in your area, check the Scottish EPC register. You'll also need to get an updated EPC after you've had the work done, and before we can issue funding.
  • You'll need to pay for any required EPCs, but you can add the cost of these to the loan if you want to.
  • Home Energy Scotland grants and loans are not linked to other schemes, and eligibility for the funds is not indicative of eligibility for any other incentives as the eligibility criteria may differ.
  • If you're planning to apply to any other financial incentive scheme, for example the Smart Export Guarantee, you should check eligibility criteria to ensure you can meet the requirements of both schemes.

Thinking of using the Home Energy Scotland Grant and Loan Scheme to fund a clean heating or renewables system? Energy Saving Trust has lots of information on generating renewable electricity and heating your home. We’ve also got more information on heat pumps, which could save you money and will help cut Scotland’s carbon emissions.

Conditions of applying for clean heating and renewable systems

  • Your application can only fund one whole-house heating system. This means it must provide both heating and hot water to the property.
  • Replacement heat pumps are not eligible for grant funding. An interest-free loan of up to £7,500 is available for replacement heat pumps.
  • You will need to provide a suitable energy report recommending the improvements you wish to install. This can be a qualifying report issued by a Home Energy Scotland advisor or an EPC.
  • If you’re applying for a biomass boiler, you must provide evidence as to why a heat pump or high heat retention storage heaters aren’t suitable for your property. This can be issued by a Home Energy Scotland advisor or your installer. 
  • Your installer and product must be certified under the Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) for the system that is being installed. The only exception to this is micro hydro systems. Applications for these systems will be assessed on a case-by-case basis and we recommend using an installer accredited by the Renewable Energy Consumer Code (RECC) or recommended by the British Hydro Association.
  • Once your system is installed you will need to leave a rating and review of your installer (if listed) on Energy Saving Trust’s Renewables Installer Finder, as well as supply the required documents, before claiming funding.

Conditions of applying for a heat network connection

  • The heat network must be powered fully or partially by a renewable source of energy and the scheme must be approved for funding under this loan scheme.
  • The fuel mix must include a minimum proportion of renewable energy sources. Heat network connections are assessed on a case-by-case basis. Contact us for more information.
  • If you are making improvements to glazing, you can only use funding to improve single glazed windows. Funding is not available for replacing or improving existing double, triple or secondary glazing.  
  • Grant funding is not available for glazing.  
  • If you’re applying for high heat retention storage heaters you must provide evidence as to why a heat pump isn’t suitable for your property. This can be issued by a Home Energy Scotland advisor or your installer.

 

Warmer Homes Scotland

Use the Warmer Homes Scotland self-assessment tool to ensure you’re not missing out on support from this Scottish Government funding scheme.

Home Energy Check

The Home Energy Check is a personalised report with suggested next steps to help you lower your energy bills and create a more comfortable home. Our advisors can go through the Home Energy Check with you, but you can save time by completing it now.

Scottish EPC Register

Check the Scottish EPC register to determine if your home has an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC). Our advisors can do this for you if you wish.

Home Renewables Selector

This handy online tool helps you understand what renewable energy technologies, including low-emissions heating, such as heat pumps, might suit your home.