Air Source Heat Pump Grants in Scotland

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Heat Pumps are the future for households in Scotland

As an alternative to a traditional boiler, heat pumps are very much the future for home heating, especially for new-build properties. However, it is also possible to retrofit existing properties with a heat pump.

Because of the space limitations that many properties have, this makes air source heat pumps the most likely option for Scottish households whose budgets are increasingly being stretched by the cost of living and energy prices in particular. Adding an energy efficient heat pump can provide both heat and hot water for properties and have a significant impact on energy bills, making the time to switch to a heat pump now.

For many households in Scotland, the cost of an air source heat pump may make them seem out of reach, but with funding available for these types of energy efficiency upgrade, the possibility of a heat pump upgrade becomes more realistic.

What is the Warmer Homes Scotland scheme?

The Warmer Homes Scotland scheme was introduced by the Scottish government to provide funding and support to households that are struggling to heat their homes and stay on top of their energy bills. This funding is more important now than ever as many households are effectively in fuel poverty, having to spend a significant portion of their income on heating costs. As a result of financial pressures, and a need for households to reduce their carbon footprint, many are increasingly looking to renewable energy sources, and heat pump installation, to save money and keep their homes suitably warm.

Who is the scheme for?

The scheme was created to help make qualifying Scottish homes warmer and more comfortable by installing various energy efficiency measures, including via heat pump grants in Scotland. This type of home energy Scotland grant is offered to homeowners and private sector tenants that are having difficulty heating their homes, have lived in their property for at least twelve months, and who meet the eligibility criteria.

What is available through the scheme?

The improvements you can get through the scheme will be based on a survey of your home. Assessors will come to your property to survey it and recommend improvements that are suitable for you, which could include different types of insulation and an energy efficient heating system heating upgrade like a heat pump.

In the majority of cases, the costs of installing heat pumps in Scotland could be covered by the Scottish government funding. It is worth noting that grant funding can’t be accessed for work that has already been completed. Any home improvements that are funded by Warmer Homes Scotland need to be managed by an approved installer.

In certain circumstances, a customer contribution will be needed for specific more expensive improvements, like solid wall insulation. There is an interest-free loan available to help meet the costs of the customer’s contribution. The loan, which is managed by the Energy Saving Trust, will need a credit check, and successful loans will have an administration fee. More information on the loan will be given if your offer includes a customer contribution.

How does the scheme work for private tenants?

If you are a private sector tenant, your landlord will be informed of the improvements that can be funded by the Scottish government and which ones they might need to fund directly. Their permission is needed before any improvements, such as air source heat pumps, can be installed in your home.

Since 1st August 2017, restrictions have been put in place on the improvements available under the Warmer Homes Scotland scheme to customers living in privately rented properties. Private Rented Sector homes covered by the statutory Repairing Standard will now not receive improvements that a landlord is legally obligated to provide. These customers will still be eligible for other improvements available through the scheme, like a heat pump in Scotland if they are recommended for the property.

Who is eligible for a heat pump grant?

If you don’t meet the criteria below, don’t worry. You might be able to qualify for a free heat pump in Scotland through the interest-free Home Energy loan or an area-based scheme near to you. To be eligible for Warmer Homes Scotland your household needs to meet all of the following criteria:

Be homeowners or tenants of a private landlord
Live in the home as the main residence
Have lived in the property for at least 12 months (unless you have a DS1500 certificate)
Live in a property with an energy rating of 72 or less and that is no more than 230 square metres in floor size
Live in a home that meets the tolerable living standard set out in the Housing Act 2006 (Scotland) or, in situations where the property does not meet tolerable living standards, this won’t have an impact on the effectiveness of the recommended measures for installation through the scheme
Homeowners or tenants must not have received support for energy efficiency improvements through Warmer Homes Scotland funding in the last five years

Meet one of the conditions below:

Be of pensionable age, don’t have a working heating system, and be receiving a passport benefit*
Be over 75 years of age and receiving a passport benefit
Pregnant and/or have children under 16 and in receipt of a passport benefit
Have a disability and be receiving any level of Personal Independent Payment (PIP)
Have a disability and are claiming a high rate of Disability Living Allowance (DLA) (care or mobility element)
Have a disability and be receiving a low/medium rate of Disability Living Allowance and claiming an income-related benefit
Be a carer claiming Carer’s Allowance
Have been injured or disabled during service in the Armed Forces and are receiving Armed Forces Independence Payment/War Disablement Pension
Have an injury or disability from an accident or disease caused by work and be receiving Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit

*Passport benefits are:

Guarantee element of the Pension Credit
Attendance Allowance
Universal Credit or any of the benefits that are expected to be replaced by Universal Credit (Income Based JSA, Child Tax Credit, Working Tax Credit, Employment and Support Allowance, Income Support, Housing Benefit)
Council Tax Reduction (not including 25% discount for single occupancy)
Carer’s Allowance
Higher Rate Care or Mobility parts of Disability Living Allowance (DLA) or Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
Armed Forces Independence Payment
War Disablement Pension
Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit

Home Energy Scotland Loan

If you want to apply for a Home Energy Scotland Loan, you will require a quote from an installer to support your application. You can begin your application now and save it for completion when your selected installers have been able to give you quotes.

See if you qualify for a Scotland grant and loan and get your free quote with us today. Alternatively check out our heat pumps Scotland page if you don’t qualify.

Find the best heat pump for your Home.

Contact us today to find out about air source heat pumps and whether they are suitable suitable for your premises. We will put you in touch with expert installers who will help you ascertain which heat pump system is best for your home and what options are available.

Traditional Boilers

Traditional boilers run on gas which is costly, making them an expensive option for Scottish households to run.

Efficiency level of of between 65-90%+ depending on age
Are fuelled by costly gas at a time when household budgets in Scotland are increasingly being squeezed
Require regular maintenance and repairs can be costly
Use a non-renewable heating system that adds to carbon emissions

Air Source Heat Pumps

Heat pumps are a highly efficient, much greener alternative to other forms of heating like gas boilers.

Efficiency level of between 300% to 500%
Cost-effective and require minimal maintenance
Produce lower fuel bills - at a time when energy bills are escalating.
Low carbon option and won’t produce any additional carbon if used with a renewable tariff.

Heat Pump Scotland FAQs

How much will a heat pump cost?

Heat pump cost will vary according to the type of heat pump chosen plus the make, model and heat output required. Some units, for example, may not require a separate hot water cylinder as they have their own integrated water tank, and this can impact on price. In general there isn’t a great deal of difference in the costs of heat pumps, whether air source heat pump or ground source heat pump, the difference comes with the cost of installation.

Air source heat pumps are relatively easy to install and usually are completed in 1-2 days. As a ballpark figure, you should probably expect to pay around £8,000 – £15,000 for an air source heat pump, but a free heat pump grant will reduce the costs considerably. Ground source heat pump installation is far more complex and requires significant groundwork to install the required pipework and this can take several weeks to install. Costs are likely to be well in excess of £15,000, making them the much more expensive option. Again, availability of energy efficiency grants could potentially mean free heat pumps for some people.

How energy efficient are heat pumps?

Heat pumps work with an efficiency of between 300-500%. A typical air source heat pump operating at around 300% would produce 3kWh of heat for every 1kW of electricity it requires to extract it from the air. When the temperature falls in the colder months, this means the pump will have to work harder so will be less efficient. Ground source heat pumps are more energy efficient so one operating at 400% efficiency would produce 4kWh of heat energy for every 1kW of electricity used. Due to more consistent ambient ground temperatures throughout the year, this means efficiencies are largely maintained throughout the year.

What sort of maintenance is required with a heat pump?

Heat pumps require very little in the way of maintenance. Very much like you would expect to have a gas boiler serviced annually, the same applies with heat pumps, where a regular service check will ensure that your system stays running smoothly. A properly installed and well-maintained heat pump should last around 20-25 years.

How do I know which type of heat pump is right for my property?

If you’re unsure which heat pump is the right option for your home in Scotland, then get in touch and we can advise you. We can arrange for a local installer to visit your property to assess your home’s energy efficiency rating, suitability for a heat pump, and advise you on the right type and model for your home and budget. We’ll also give you an indication of costs, availability of heat pump grants Scotland, and how much a heat pump might save you over the course of its lifetime.

Low maintenance & Servicing Costs

If regularly serviced and maintained

0% VAT payable and funding grants available

Due to fewer parts than typical gas, oiler and LPG boilers

Ensures year-round operation

Typical length of warranties provided

Join thousands of happy customers who have switched with us.

We had an Ideal Logic 2 Combi boiler fitted on 29/06/23 with Fixx. Craig the Engineer arrived bright and early after a call to say he would be there in 30 minutes. He was very efficient and finished by mid afternoon before running through all the wireless thermostat details before leaving. Found the company extremely helpful with any questions I asked, great company to do business with and would recommend highly.

Extremely impressed with Fixx and everyone there that I dealt with. They discussed all the requirements for a new under sink water heater for my flat to supply the kitchen sink and bathroom sink in the next room, as well as connections for a dishwasher and washing machinke. They provided a quote very quickly and the whole thing was installed just a few days later. Very neat setup, all ready for the kitchen fitter to complete the worktop and hook up the taps to the sink (see photos). I would 100% use Fixx again - I'm a very satisfied customer.

The two gentlemen from Fixx did a fabulous job removing my Boiler Mate 2000 and replacing it with an unvented cylinder. Everything at each stage was explained to me and they worked extremely hard to achieve a fantastic result. I won’t hesitate to contact them in the future if and when I need a new boiler and would 100% recommend Fixx to anyone.

Very pleased with Fixx services, from start to finish. Craig kindly arranged for my Baxi Duo Tec boiler to be repaired asap and the engineer (Louis) arrived on time, was professional and polite, talked me through what he found and how he fixed it. Highly recommend! Thank you Fixx.

I've a contract for my boiler so when I found a leak, I contacted the helpline. Still had hot water but they still sent someone within 24 hours. Engineer (Darren) came and found the fault. Had the correct part in the van and heating was back on in around an hour from his arrival. Great service and knowledgeable. Highly recommend.

Great service. Carl, the plumber, who sorted the boiler was so friendly and knowledgeable. So good in fact that we got the company to send him again to fit a Hive system which has helped us save a fortune.