Housing

Homeowners can now apply for a standalone grant of £7,500 from the Home Energy Scotland Scheme to install heat pumps. Previously, applicants were required to sign up for a loan before they qualified for this funding, but can now access the money directly.

The new approach is designed to offer greater flexibility for those looking to make their homes more climate-friendly.

Social landlords will be able to access loans to build more affordable housing as a multimillion pound investment programme reopens to applications.

A new drive has been launched to develop Scotland’s green heat sector and ensure the right people, skills and technology are in place to make homes and buildings warmer, greener and cheaper to run.

Scotland’s rural and island communities can share their lived experiences of the cost of living crisis directly on a new public web portal launched today (Tuesday 8 November).

The Rural Exchange portal has been developed by Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC) to give a voice to people living and working in rural and island areas.

The Just Transition Fund (JTF) is a £500 million ten-year commitment that will support projects in the North East and Moray which contribute towards the region’s transition to net zero.

A housing needs survey has been launched in Comrie to provide information for planning affordable housing developments in the community. Comrie has been identified as having the same problems as north Perthshire and other areas of the Highlands and Islands in the loss of younger people and families because of a serious shortage of accommodation to rent or purchase at costs they are able to pay.

On 20 December 2021, the Scottish Government invited comments to a ‘New Deal for Tenants - draft rented sector strategy: consultation’, which seeks to improve accessibility, affordability choices and standards across the whole rented sector in Scotland. This is of particular relevance to  Agricultural, Crofting and Tied Worker Tenancies.

The Scottish Government funded Self Build Loan Fund will be extended for an additional five years and will reopen in autumn 2022 following the appointment of a Fund administrator.

Proposals for all new buildings to be fitted with climate-friendly alternatives to fossil fuel heating systems have been published.