Air Source Heat Pump Grants in Scotland

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 heating like a heat pump. In the majority of cases, all costs will be covered by the Scottish government funding. It is worth noting that 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 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 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