What you can get now in Scotland
GBIS closed on 31 March 2026 and ECO4 ends on 31 December 2026. Scotland's own schemes carry on.
- Warmer Homes Scotland — fully funded insulation and heating, including a new gas boiler or an air source heat pump where suitable, for homeowners and private tenants on a qualifying benefit, or aged 75+ with no working heating, who have lived in the home for at least six months. Call Home Energy Scotland free on 0808 808 2282.
- Paying yourself in Scotland? — Home Energy Scotland offers owners grants and interest-free loans for insulation and heat pumps (up to £7,500 grant towards a heat pump, plus an optional £7,500 interest-free loan that you repay), and loans for solar thermal or hybrid PV-T panels; standalone solar PV is not funded. The Boiler Upgrade Scheme does not cover Scotland. 0% VAT on installed insulation, heat pumps and solar applies until 31 March 2027.
- Warm Home Discount — £150 off your electricity bill for winter 2026/27. In Scotland you may need to apply to your supplier. Who qualifies.
- ECO4, while it lasts — ECO4 can still fund work where a local installer has capacity, but only until 31 December 2026, and the work has to be finished, not just booked. There are no new targets and no ECO5. What replaces ECO4.
Sources, checked 10 October 2026: GOV.UK Warm Homes: Local Grant, GOV.UK Boiler Upgrade Scheme, SI 2026/390, Ofgem ECO, HMRC VAT Notice 708/6, GOV.UK Warm Home Discount, Home Energy Scotland, gov.wales Nest.
Energy Grants Available in Scotland
Scotland has its own energy efficiency programmes on top of the Great Britain-wide schemes, giving Scottish households more routes to free insulation, heating, and energy improvements than the rest of the UK. Whether you own your home, rent privately, or live in social housing, there's likely a scheme that can help you.
Here's a summary of every major energy grant available in Scotland in 2026:
| Scheme | What You Get | Who Qualifies | How to Access |
|---|---|---|---|
| Warmer Homes Scotland | Free insulation, boilers, heat pumps, heating systems | Low-income homeowners/private tenants with qualifying benefits or vulnerability | Home Energy Scotland referral |
| Home Energy Scotland Grant and Loan | Heat pump grant up to £7,500 + optional £7,500 interest-free loan (repayable); energy efficiency grant up to 75% of the cost, max £7,500 | Homeowners (first come, first served, subject to funding) | Home Energy Scotland |
| ECO4 | Free insulation, boilers, heat pumps | Qualifying benefits + EPC D or below | Energy supplier or installer |
| GBIS | Closed 31 March 2026 | Was: council tax bands A-E in Scotland (no benefits needed) | Energy supplier or installer |
| Warm Home Discount | £150 off electricity bill | Pension Credit or qualifying benefits + low income | Automatic or via energy supplier |
One number for everything: Call Home Energy Scotland on 0808 808 2282 (free, Mon-Fri 8am-8pm, Sat 9am-5pm). They act as a single gateway to all energy schemes in Scotland and will assess which ones you qualify for.
Warmer Homes Scotland
Warmer Homes Scotland is the Scottish Government's flagship energy efficiency programme, replacing the former HEEPS:ABS scheme. It's managed by Warmworks and in most cases fully funds energy improvements for qualifying households (a contribution is occasionally needed).
What You Can Get
- Loft insulation — new or top-up to recommended depth
- Cavity wall insulation
- Solid wall insulation — internal or external
- Underfloor insulation
- Boiler replacement — new energy-efficient gas or LPG boiler
- Air source heat pump — for off-gas properties
- New central heating system — including radiators and pipework
- Draught-proofing and ventilation
Who Qualifies
Warmer Homes Scotland is aimed at households vulnerable to fuel poverty. You may qualify if you meet at least one of these criteria:
- You receive a qualifying benefit — Pension Credit, Universal Credit, Income Support, income-based JSA, income-related ESA, Housing Benefit, Adult Disability Payment or Carer Support Payment, among others (tax credits ended in April 2025)
- You are aged 75 or over with no working heating
- You have a disability or long-term health condition made worse by living in a cold home
- You have been referred by Home Energy Scotland based on a vulnerability assessment
You must be a homeowner or private-sector tenant (with landlord consent). Social housing tenants are covered by their housing association's own programmes.
Home Energy Scotland Grant and Loan
Home Energy Scotland (HES) runs the Home Energy Scotland Grant and Loan for homeowners paying for energy improvements. Funding is first come, first served and subject to funding. Call 0808 808 2282.
What the grant and loan cover
- Heat pumps: a grant of up to £7,500, plus an optional interest-free loan of up to £7,500
- Energy efficiency (such as insulation): a grant of up to 75% of the cost, to a maximum of £7,500
- Rural and island homes: an extra £1,500 on heating and energy efficiency grants, so up to £18,000 in grants in total
- Solar: standalone solar PV is not funded by the grant; solar thermal and hybrid PV-T panels (and wind and hydro) are available by loan only
The grant is yours to keep; the loan has to be repaid.
New: the Warm Homes Loan also covers Scotland. Since 27 October 2026, the UK government’s Warm Homes Loan Scheme lets homeowners anywhere in the UK borrow for heat pumps, solar PV and batteries from ten lenders, some interest-free, with no income test. Unlike the Home Energy Scotland grant, it does cover standalone solar PV (up to £15,000). GOV.UK says you can use it alongside Home Energy Scotland grants, but not to pay for the same improvement twice. How the Warm Homes Loan works →
Example: A Scottish homeowner installing an air source heat pump costing £12,000 could get a Home Energy Scotland grant of up to £7,500 and borrow the rest through the optional interest-free loan, which has to be repaid. The Boiler Upgrade Scheme does not apply in Scotland, so it cannot be added on top.
ECO4 in Scotland
The Energy Company Obligation (ECO4) is a Great Britain-wide scheme that also operates in Scotland. Energy companies fund free insulation, boiler replacements, and heat pumps for qualifying households. The scheme rules are broadly the same across Great Britain, but there are some Scotland-specific differences:
- Council tax thresholds — ECO4 flex referrals in Scotland use Scottish council tax bands, which have different property value boundaries than English bands
- Local authority flex — Scottish councils can refer households they consider vulnerable to fuel poverty, even if they don't receive qualifying benefits
- Coordination with Warmer Homes Scotland — Home Energy Scotland advisors can identify whether ECO4 or Warmer Homes Scotland is the better fit for your situation
ECO4 Qualifying Benefits (Same Across UK)
- Universal Credit
- Pension Credit (Guarantee or Savings Credit)
- Income Support
- Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
- Child Tax Credit / Working Tax Credit (ended 5 April 2025 — no longer count)
- Housing Benefit
GBIS in Scotland
The Great British Insulation Scheme (GBIS) closed on 31 March 2026. While it ran, it provided free insulation for homes that met specific criteria. In Scotland, the key difference was the council tax band energy grants threshold:
- Scotland: Council tax bands A-E qualified
- England: Council tax bands A-D qualified
This wider eligibility in Scotland reflects the different council tax banding system — Scottish band E covers a similar property value range to English band D. GBIS funded loft, cavity wall and other insulation without needing to be on benefits. Today in Scotland, Warmer Homes Scotland (benefits, or 75+ with no working heating) and the Home Energy Scotland grant and loan for owners paying themselves are the routes — call 0808 808 2282.
Warm Home Discount in Scotland
The Warm Home Discount provides a £150 discount on your electricity bill each winter. In Scotland, as in the rest of the UK, there are two qualifying groups:
- Core group 1: You receive Pension Credit (Guarantee Credit) — discount applied automatically
- Core group 2: You receive a qualifying benefit and your energy costs are high relative to your income — you'll receive a letter if you qualify
How to Access Energy Grants in Scotland
The simplest route to all energy grants in Scotland is through Home Energy Scotland. Here's the step-by-step process:
- Call 0808 808 2282 (free) or visit homeenergyscotland.org
- Speak to an advisor — they'll ask about your home, circumstances, and energy bills
- Get assessed — they'll identify which schemes you qualify for
- Get referred — for Warmer Homes Scotland, ECO4, or other suitable schemes
- Home survey — a qualified surveyor visits to assess what work is needed
- Installation — approved installers carry out the work, usually at no cost to you
You can also use our eligibility checker for a quick initial assessment based on your postcode.