Improving existing buildings can bring valuable benefits in terms of improved comfort and reduced bills. However, it can be expensive. Several sources of grants and finance are available to flat owners.

Home Energy Scotland Grant & Loan

This scheme is open to all homeowners for their primary residence and is not means tested. 

Energy Efficiency 

• Up to £7500 of grants, increasing to £9000 in rural areas, towards up to 75% of the cost of measures with limits per measures.
• Eligible measures for grants include loft, wall, ground floor insulation, modern storage heaters, window & door seals, 
• Interest free loans to upgrade doors and single glazed windows.

Renewables, including heat pumps

• Up to £7500 of grants, increasing to £9000 in rural areas.
• Up to £7500 interest free loan.

Watch this webinar for a more detailed explanation of the scheme. Chris Carus from Loco Home Retrofit discusses with representatives from Home Energy Scotland.

Enquire with Home Energy Scotland for more information

• Home Energy Scotland: Grant & Loan Scheme
• Call: 0808 808 2282

Warmer Homes Scotland

This is grant funded support for those struggling to keep warm. 

Eligible households could receive energy-saving home improvements worth £10,000 or more to make their home warmer and more energy efficient.

Support is available to households who are for certain DWP benefits or where an occupant has a terminal illnesses, and where the property is has a poor energy rating.

Enquire with Home Energy Scotland.

• Warmer Homes Scotland
• 0808 808 2282

Local Authority Area Based Schemes

Local authorities operate schemes that target properties with poor energy performance in areas of high deprivation. Measures often include solid wall insulation and solar panels. Property owners in targeted areas will receive correspondence from their local authority.

Energy Company Obligation (ECO) and Great British Insulation Scheme – CLOSED

The Energy Company Obligation (ECO) and Great British Insulation Schemes closed to new applications on 31st March 2026. The scheme is open until December 2026 to complete projects already in progress, and remediate any problems 

Green Finance

Some mortgage providers will provide additional lending at preferential rates to support improvements that improve energy efficiency, often measured through the impact on the Energy Performance Certificate.

In addition, some financial services providers provide unsecured loan for green home improvements. 

Citizens Advice Scotland offers resources to consider before borrowing money.

The Green Finance Institute maintain lists of relevant financial products.

• Citizens Advice Scotland: Borrowing Money
• Green Finance Institute: Green Mortgages
• Green Finance Institute: Unsecured Green Home Loans

Solar panels: Smart Export Guarantee 

The SEG requires some electricity suppliers, known as SEG Licensees, to pay small-scale generators, known as SEG Generators, for low-carbon electricity which they export back to the National Grid, providing certain criteria are met.

For example, this is important if you are considering installing solar panels on your roof.

While the tariff paid must be above zero, some electricity suppliers will pay more. 

• Ofgem: Smart Export Guarantee

Avoid Sales Scams

Be careful to avoid sales scams in which the offered price is discounted through grant schemes. ‘Window recycling scheme’ and ‘solar incentive’ are not public grant schemes. 

Financing Repairs and Retrofit Toolkit

To find out more about financing retrofit projects, check out our free toolkit, written by housing consultant Gillian Campbell.