If you want to retrofit your tenement building, meaning to upgrade it to improve its energy efficiency, you may find it a worthwhile but expensive project. Whether you are considering swapping out your traditional boiler for a new, low-carbon heating system, upgrading your windows and insulation, or even generating your own renewable energy, the costs can quickly add up. The aim of retrofit is often to save money in the long term, as your building will usually be cheaper to heat when the work is completed, but the upfront costs can put tenement owners off.
While funding for retrofit projects in tenement buildings is quite rare, there may be some options available to you, depending on your location, the type of project you wish to carry out, and your personal circumstances.
This article will explore the financing options available for retrofit projects, including grants, loans and help from local authorities across Scotland.
Home Energy Scotland grants and loans
Home Energy Scotland, a Scottish Government-funded body, currently offers grants and interest-free loans to homeowners to install clean heating systems and other energy efficiency measures. In urban areas, grants of up to £7,500 are available to help you install a heat pump or connect to a local heat network, with up to an additional £7,500 available as an interest-free loan.
A heat pump is a form of low-carbon central heating, which, rather than using fuel to heat cold air indoors, transfers naturally warm air from the ground or outside your building indoors to heat your home. A heat pump can replace a boiler inside an individual flat.
Heat networks, on the other hand, require the co-operation of all the owners in a building, as they involve whole buildings, or often whole developments, connecting to a central source of heat such as a nearby waste facility or data centre.
For other measures, such as improving windows and doors, draught-proofing or installing insulation, homeowners in urban areas can claim grant funding for up to 75% of the cost of the work.
Homeowners in rural areas have the option to access more money, up to £9,000 for heating upgrades or energy efficiency measures, reflecting the higher costs of material and labour in rural Scotland.
These grants and loans are not means-tested, and you can only apply if the property is your only or primary residence. This means that rented properties are ineligible. However, there are separate loans available for landlords. There is funding available for interest-free loans of up to £38,500 per property to assist with the cost of measures such as heat pumps, installing insulation, or energy storage systems.
Be careful about private companies offering ‘grants’ for upgrades such as new windows or solar panels. In some cases, prices may have been artificially inflated, and then marketed to look as though a discount has been applied. Check what funding Home Energy Scotland has available, and always shop around for multiple quotes before embarking on any work on your property.
Area-Based Schemes
If you live in an area with a high level of fuel poverty, you may be eligible for an Area-Based Scheme. This is funding given by the Scottish Government to local authorities, which then design projects in areas which need specific help due to high levels of fuel poverty and deprivation. These often occur in areas with lots of mixed-tenure buildings, meaning a mixture of privately owned and social rented properties within the same building, as local authorities use Scottish Government funding, money from Registered Social Landlords and contributions from private homeowners to pay for the works. The type of work typically involves installing solid wall insulation or heat pumps.
Area-Based Scheme funding cannot be applied for, but your local authority will contact you if you are eligible to take part.
Historic buildings
Finally, if you live in a historic building, consider reaching out to your local heritage trust or historic buildings trust, as they sometimes have grants available for retrofit projects in buildings which meet that criteria.
While funding for retrofit projects can be difficult to source, there are some options available for tenement owners looking to improve their building’s energy efficiency. Under One Roof, Scotland’s charity dedicated to offering information and support to tenement owners, has recently published a toolkit to help tenement owners understand the options available to them. Written by housing consultant Gillian Campbell, with funding from The MCS Foundation, this toolkit is available from the Under One Roof website.
