Question reference: S6W-03771
- Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
- Date lodged: 14 October 2021
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Current status: Answered by Patrick Harvie on 4 November 2021
Question
To ask the Scottish Government what funding or financial support it plans to put in place to support homeowners and landlords to achieve the required targets set out in its Heat in Buildings Strategy.
Answer
The Home Energy Scotland loan scheme provides up to £15,000 for energy efficiency measures and up to £17,500 for renewables measures (maximum of two). Registered private landlords owning five or fewer properties will be eligible for interest free loans, and owners of six or more properties will be subject to interest at a rate of 3.5% APR. Homeowners are eligible for interest free loans as well as 75% cashback up to £7,500 for renewable heat measures, and an enhanced 40% cashback for energy efficiency measures up to £6,000. In 2022-23, we will replace current cashback arrangements with a grant scheme.
In addition the Scottish Government’s fuel poverty schemes have adopted a “zero emissions first” approach. Warmer Homes Scotland enables eligible households to receive energy efficiency and heating improvements, including an increasing number of heat pumps. Our local authority-led Area Based Schemes provide energy efficiency improvements to households in or at risk of fuel poverty living in their own home or a private rented property, leveraging Energy Company Obligation (ECO) finance and private investment.
These schemes form part of our broader investment package. We have committed to invest at least £1.8 billion over the course of this parliament to kick-start market growth and support those least able to pay.
In addition we are working to develop an appropriate market framework to help consumers overcome the upfront investment costs and to attract and secure further private investment and finance to help meet the costs of the transition. We will establish a Green Heat Finance Taskforce by the end of 2021 to recommend ways the Scottish Government and private sector can collaborate to scale up investment.