Homeowners
Home Energy Scotland
If you own your own home, you can apply for the Home Energy Scotland Grant and Loan.
Grants for energy efficiency measures (like insulation) are available up to £7,500, covering up to 75% of the total cost of the work.
You can cover the remaining cost with an optional interest-free (0%) loan.
Grants for clean heating systems (like heat pumps) are also available up to £7,500.
If you live in a rural or island location, both grants are uplifted by £1,500 each, meaning you could access up to £18,000 in total grant funding.
You will need an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) and a report/assessment from a Home Energy Scotland advisor. The process can take several weeks, so enquire early.
See the Home Energy Scotland website for more details
Energy Efficiency Scotland - Area Based Schemes
Scottish Government fund local authorities to carry out insulation schemes in specific areas.
You have to live in an area that the council select (pot-luck!)
Social Housing is fully funded on schemes like this, but private homeowners have to pay a contribution. Usually this is something like contributing £1,000 for £8,000 of work, but every scheme is different.
Energy Company Obligation (ECO) Funding
Energy Companies are mandated to fund energy efficiency measures for homes across the UK. Whole house retrofit can be funded, but there are stringent qualification criteria.
To qualify you must be on benefits.
Eco-Flex can allow your local authority to refer you if a person in your household has a severe or long-term health condition that is adversely affected by living in a cold home.
See the UK Government ECO website for more details.
Note: The latest ECO4 scheme was originally scheduled to end in March 2026 but was recently extended to 31 December 2026. However, because most energy suppliers have already met or are close to meeting their legal targets, new funding approvals are becoming very limited.
The government has also confirmed there will be no "ECO5" successor, as funding will be redirected to the Warm Homes Plan starting in 2027
Private Landlords
Private Sector Rented Landlord Loan
Home Energy Scotland provide loans for energy efficiency measures. There are no grants available.
Through the Home Energy Scotland Private Rented Sector Landlord Loan, landlords can borrow up to £38,500 per property.
If a landlord has up to 5 properties in their portfolio, the loan is 0% interest.
If they have more than 5 properties, the interest rate is 3.5% APR (up to a maximum portfolio borrowing limit of £250,000).
You can find more information on the Home Energy Scotland website
Energy Efficiency Scotland - Area-Based Schemes
Landlords can access the EES-ABS scheme if the home is in a qualifying area.
See description in the Homeowner section above.
Energy Company Obligation
Landlords can access the ECO4 fund if their tenants qualify.
See the description in the Homeowner section above.
Something not right?
If you think some of this information is incorrect or out of date, please let us know