New applications to Warmer Homes Scotland are paused until Monday 2 October 2023

Warmer Homes Scotland is funded by the Scottish Government. It provides energy saving home improvements, including central heating systems and insulation, to eligible households who are struggling to keep warm or with the cost of their energy bills; making homes warmer, more comfortable and more affordable to heat.

Referrals for Warmer Homes Scotland have been paused from Friday 31 March 2023 and will be re-starting in October 2023.

Applications received by Home Energy Scotland from Saturday 1 April 2023 onwards will be assessed under the new eligibility criteria and referrals are being held onto until Monday 2 October 2023.

If you've already applied or wish to apply for Warmer Homes Scotland

If you’ve already submitted an application:

If you submitted your application on or before Friday 31 March 2023, your application will be part of the original scheme. You should refer to the letter or email we sent to you that explains what happens next.

We will hold onto all applications submitted from Saturday 1 April onwards until the managing agent starts delivering the improved programme in October 2023. When it does (and if you're eligible), we will pass your details to the managing agent. They will contact you to arrange for an assessor to survey your home.

If you are eligible for any energy saving home improvements the assessor will let you know during this survey what is available to you. We will work hard to ensure that you get the help you need in the quickest time possible.

If you choose to cancel your application, please let us know so that we can update our records and stop the managing agent from contacting you in autumn 2023.

The home survey and installation of energy saving home improvements are managed by the managing agent. They will be your main point of contact once the Warmer Homes Scotland programme re-starts.

If you wish to apply for Warmer Homes Scotland:

You can still do this. We will assess your application based on the new eligibility criteria and, if you're eligible, we will pass your details to the managing agent from Monday 2 October. They will then contact you to arrange for an assessor to survey your home.

What happens next?

We have broken down what happens once you apply for Warmer Homes Scotland funding into three stages:

Stage one

Stage two

If the Department of Work and Pensions cannot confirm your benefits:

Home Energy Scotland will contact you to check this. For this you will need a recent benefit award letter or a bank statement (or online banking screen capture) showing that your benefits have been paid in the last 4 weeks. Once Home Energy Scotland has manually checked this, your referral will be held on to whilst Warmer Homes Scotland is paused.

You will need to have your documents ready in case of appeal.

If the Department of Work and Pensions can confirm your benefits:

Your referral will be held onto whilst Warmer Homes Scotland is paused.

You will need to keep your most recent benefit letter safe as you will need to show this at your survey.

Stage three

Frequently asked questions

Can I still apply for Warmer Homes Scotland?

Can someone else sort this out for me?

Yes. You can choose someone else to speak on your behalf like a friend, family member, carer or, in some cases, your landlord. To do this, we will need your permission and the contact details of the person you would like to represent you.

If you don't have someone to help you, let us know. We have special advisors called Energycarers who can give you advice and practical support over the phone, by email, or at home. If there’s another organisation near you that can offer the same help, we might suggest that.

Why do I need to provide documents about my benefits and where I live?

Eligibility for help under Warmer Homes Scotland is based on your own personal circumstances. The information you have given about your benefits and your home suggest that you will be eligible for help.

This will be checked at your initial survey, which will assess whether you and your home are eligible. The surveyor will take a photograph of your documents and will leave the originals with you.

Which documents are suitable as proof?

Proof of benefit – for example: a letter from the Department for Work and Pensions, Jobcentre Plus, Social Security Scotland, or council confirming that you were receiving the benefit at the time you applied to Home Energy Scotland.
Proof that you own your home or rent from a private landlord - for example: title deeds, mortgage statement or tenancy agreement.
- If you rent your home, a tenancy agreement is the best form of proof, but we will also need permission from your landlord for any work to go ahead.
- If you do not have a tenancy agreement then a ‘life rent agreement’ or a solicitor’s letter confirming that you live there and are responsible for the maintenance and the energy costs can be used instead. Contact Home Energy Scotland before you spend any money on this.

Proof that your home is your main residence (and that you've lived there for at least six months) - for example: a council tax bill statement, bank statement or a utility bill that is between 6 and 24 months old.

What if I can't find the necessary documents?

Why do I need a survey?

What should I expect when the installation takes place?

Everyone who carries out installations as part of the Warmer Homes Scotland programme is trained and accredited to the highest quality standards. The managing agent makes sure they adhere to a strict code of conduct around leaving your home clean and tidy. However, be aware there may be some unavoidable noise and disruption as work is being done, particularly for heating improvements.

You may be asked to make your home ready by moving furniture, storing away belongings , or moving pets to a safe space. The registered installation company will always do their best to keep disruption to a minimum and make every effort to ensure that you are happy with the work before they leave.

Home Energy Scotland is funded by Scottish Government and provides free and impartial advice, support and funding to help households in Scotland reduce their bills and lower their impact on the environment. Our award-winning service is available to all and we've helped Scotland save over £1 billion on energy bills (plus over 6 million tonnes of CO2) since we launched in 2008.

We're proud to be part of the Scottish Government's efforts to tackle the climate emergency and help households out of fuel poverty, as we recover from the pandemic.

Visit Net Zero Scotland