Scottish Home Energy Grants 2026: Complete Guide for Glasgow Homeowners

Scottish homeowners can access better home energy grants than the rest of the UK, with up to £15,000 available through government schemes and no-cost upgrades for eligible low-income households.

Summary of Scottish home energy grants

Contact for all schemes: Home Energy Scotland on 0808 808 2282 (free from landlines and mobiles, open Mon-Fri 9am-5pm)

Warmer Homes Scotland (free for eligible households)

Warmer Homes Scotland is the main Scottish Government scheme for low-income households. It provides completely free home energy improvements with no upfront cost and no repayment required.

Eligibility requirements

You qualify if you meet both of these criteria:

1. You receive a qualifying benefit:
   • Universal Credit
   • Pension Credit
   • Employment and Support Allowance
   • Income Support
   • Jobseeker's Allowance (income-based)
   • Working Tax Credit
   • Child Tax Credit (with income under £18,000)
2. Your home has poor energy efficiency:
   • EPC rating D, E, F, or G
   • No gas central heating, or
   • Broken heating system

What Warmer Homes Scotland covers

The scheme can provide:

• Loft insulation (up to 270mm)
• Cavity wall insulation
• Solid wall insulation (internal or external)
• Draught proofing
• New gas central heating system
• Air source heat pump
• Storage heaters (if gas isn't available)

A home energy assessor will visit your property and recommend the most appropriate improvements. There's no fixed limit on spending - the scheme covers whatever is needed to bring your home to an acceptable energy efficiency standard.

How to apply

1. Call Home Energy Scotland on 0808 808 2282
2. Answer questions about your benefits and home
3. Wait 2-4 weeks for eligibility confirmation
4. Home energy assessor visits (free)
5. Work scheduled with approved installer (waiting time varies, typically 8-16 weeks)

The entire process typically takes 3-6 months from application to installation.

Home Energy Scotland Grant and Loan (all homeowners)

All Scottish homeowners can apply for this scheme regardless of income:

Grant element (no repayment)

• Up to £7,500 as a grant (you don't pay this back)
• Standard award: £5,000
• Enhanced award: £7,500 (if you meet additional criteria)

Loan element (interest-free, optional)

• Up to £7,500 as an interest-free loan
• Repayable over 10 years (around £63/month)
• You can take the grant without the loan if you prefer

Maximum total funding: £15,000

(£7,500 grant + £7,500 loan combined)

What it covers

The grant and loan can pay for:

• Loft insulation
• Cavity wall insulation
• Solid wall insulation (internal or external)
• Under-floor insulation
• Air source heat pump
• Ground source heat pump
• Biomass boiler
• Double glazing (as part of a package)
• Solar PV panels
• Solar thermal panels

Important: You can't just do one measure (e.g. only double glazing). The grant requires a package of improvements recommended after a home energy assessment. Single measures like loft-only or cavity-wall-only usually aren't funded.

Eligibility

You can apply if:

• You own your home (freehold or leasehold)
• The property is your main residence
• Your home has an EPC rating of A-E (homes rated F or G should apply to Warmer Homes Scotland first)

How to apply

1. Call Home Energy Scotland on 0808 808 2282 to request an assessment
2. Book a home visit with an energy assessor (free)
3. Receive a report recommending eligible improvements
4. Get quotes from approved installers
5. Submit quotes to Home Energy Scotland for approval
6. Work is carried out, you pay installer
7. Grant/loan funds are released to you after completion (or paid direct to installer)

Boiler Upgrade Scheme (heat pumps)

The UK Government Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS) provides £7,500 towards heat pump installation. This scheme applies across the UK including Scotland.

What it covers

• Air source heat pumps: £7,500 grant
• Ground source heat pumps: £7,500 grant
• Biomass boilers: £5,000 grant (for rural properties not connected to gas grid)

Eligibility

• You own your home
• Your property is in England, Scotland, or Wales
• Your home has an EPC rating of D or better (C, B, or A) - you may need insulation upgrades first
• The heat pump replaces a fossil fuel heating system (gas, oil, LPG, or electric heating)

How to apply

You don't apply directly. Your installer applies on your behalf:

1. Find an MCS-certified heat pump installer (see heat pump guide)
2. Get quotes for heat pump installation
3. Choose installer - they apply for BUS voucher on your behalf
4. Voucher is approved (usually within 1-2 weeks)
5. Work is carried out
6. You pay installer minus £7,500 BUS grant

Can you combine BUS with Home Energy Scotland grant? No. You can only claim one Scottish Government grant per property. However, BUS can be used alongside the Home Energy Scotland loan.

Glasgow City Council area-based schemes

Glasgow City Council runs occasional area-based home energy improvement schemes funded by the Scottish Government. These are targeted at specific postcodes with high fuel poverty.

How area-based schemes work

• Schemes are announced for specific Glasgow neighbourhoods
• All properties in the target area are eligible (regardless of income)
• Funding covers specific improvements (e.g. external wall insulation for a whole street)
• Often free or heavily subsidised

Current and recent Glasgow schemes

Recent schemes have targeted areas including Drumchapel, Easterhouse, Castlemilk, and Pollok. Active schemes change frequently.

Check if your postcode is eligible: Call Home Energy Scotland on 0808 808 2282 or visit glasgow.gov.uk/energyschemes

Which scheme should I apply for?

Use this decision tree:

1. Do you receive Universal Credit, Pension Credit, or other qualifying benefits?
   • Yes → Apply to Warmer Homes Scotland (free, no cost to you)
   • No → Go to step 2
2. Are you installing a heat pump?
   • Yes → Use Boiler Upgrade Scheme (£7,500) + Home Energy Scotland Loan (£7,500) if needed
   • No → Go to step 3
3. Do you need a package of insulation improvements?
   • Yes → Apply to Home Energy Scotland Grant and Loan (up to £15,000)

Not sure which applies? Call Home Energy Scotland on 0808 808 2282 - their advisors will assess your situation and recommend the best scheme.

Common questions

What Scottish grants are available for home energy improvements?

The main Scottish home energy grants are: Warmer Homes Scotland (free upgrades for low-income households), Home Energy Scotland Grant and Loan (up to £7,500 grant + £7,500 interest-free loan for all homeowners), Boiler Upgrade Scheme (£7,500 for heat pumps), and area-based schemes run by Glasgow City Council. All are managed through Home Energy Scotland.

Who qualifies for Warmer Homes Scotland?

You qualify for Warmer Homes Scotland if you receive certain benefits (Universal Credit, Pension Credit, Employment Support Allowance, Income Support, or Child Tax Credit with income under £18,000) and your home has poor energy efficiency (EPC rating D, E, F, or G). The scheme provides free insulation and heating upgrades with no repayment required.

How much is the Home Energy Scotland grant?

Home Energy Scotland provides up to £7,500 as a grant (no repayment required) plus up to £7,500 as an interest-free loan (repayable over 10 years). All Scottish homeowners can apply regardless of income. The grant typically covers insulation, heating system upgrades, and renewable energy installations as part of a package.

Can I get a grant for loft insulation in Scotland?

Yes. Loft insulation is covered by Warmer Homes Scotland (free for eligible households) and the Home Energy Scotland Grant (up to £7,500 as part of a package). Call 0808 808 2282 to check eligibility.

Can private landlords get home energy grants in Scotland?

Landlords can apply for the Home Energy Scotland Loan (but not the grant element). The loan provides up to £7,500 at 0% interest to improve rental property energy efficiency. This helps landlords meet minimum EPC rating requirements (rating E or better by 2026).