Frequently asked questions about heating finance in Scotland

About the survey and quote

Every installation we arrange begins with a no-obligation survey at your home. The surveyor assesses your current heating system, calculates what your property needs, and recommends a system sized to your home. After the survey you receive a written, itemised quote covering the equipment, installation and finance options. There is no charge for the survey and no obligation to accept the quote — you are welcome to take it away and decide in your own time.

The survey is important because it is the only reliable way to determine what your property needs. A boiler must be sized to the heat demand and hot water demand of your home; an air source heat pump must be sized to the room-by-room heat loss calculated at the coldest expected outside temperature. Guessing the size of a heating system without a survey leads to poor performance, higher running costs, and in the case of heat pumps, a system that cannot keep the home warm in winter. This is why we insist on a survey before providing a quote.

About finance

We arrange quotes for paid installations, and finance is available to help you spread the cost. Loans available, subject to status — this means that finance is offered subject to affordability and credit checks, and the specific terms (monthly amount, number of payments, total amount payable) are set out in writing before you agree to anything. We do not quote rates or loan amounts on this website because the terms available to you depend on your individual circumstances and are confirmed as part of your written quote.

Finance allows you to have a new heating system installed without paying the full cost upfront. For many Scottish households this makes the difference between restoring heating quickly when a boiler fails, and waiting months to save the full amount. Whether you are replacing a combi boiler in Glasgow or installing an air source heat pump in a rural property in Fife, finance puts the work within reach.

About air source heat pumps

An air source heat pump (ASHP) is an electric heating system that extracts heat from the outside air, even at low temperatures, and distributes it through radiators or underfloor heating. ASHPs are a low-carbon alternative to gas, oil and LPG boilers and are particularly relevant for Scottish homes, including off-gas-grid properties that previously relied on oil or LPG. Because a heat pump delivers more heat energy than the electrical energy it consumes, it can significantly reduce the carbon footprint of heating your home.

Whether a heat pump is suitable for your property depends on several factors assessed during the survey: the heat loss of your home (related to insulation, glazing and build type), the size and condition of your existing radiators, space for a hot water cylinder, and external space for the heat pump unit with adequate airflow. A well-insulated home with suitably sized radiators is an ideal candidate; a poorly insulated home may need upgrades before a heat pump can perform efficiently. The survey gives you a clear answer.

For homes where a heat pump alone may not be sufficient on the coldest days, or where the householder wants the reassurance of a boiler backup, a hybrid system pairs a heat pump with a conventional boiler. The heat pump handles heating for most of the year and the boiler provides additional output in winter or rapid hot water recovery. Hybrid systems are a popular choice for larger or harder-to-heat Scottish properties.

About installation and accreditation

We install through MCS-certified partners. The Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) is the recognised quality assurance standard for renewable heating installations in the UK. By working with MCS-certified installers, we ensure that heat pump and hybrid installations are designed, sized and fitted to a consistent, audited standard. For boiler replacements, the installation is carried out by Gas Safe registered engineers. After installation, the system is commissioned, tested and registered with the manufacturer for the warranty.

Scottish Energy Efficiency arranges the survey, the quote and the installation on your behalf. We are your single point of contact throughout, coordinating with our certified installer partners so you deal with one company from enquiry to handover. If you have any concerns during the installation, call us and we will make sure they are addressed.

About coverage

We cover mainland Scotland and the islands, from the Borders to the Highlands. Our team is based in Dundee, and we arrange surveys across Glasgow and Strathclyde, Edinburgh and the Lothians, Tayside and Fife, Aberdeen and Grampian, the Highlands and Islands, the Scottish Borders, Dumfries and Galloway, Argyll and Bute, and the Forth Valley. If you are unsure whether we cover your area, call us with your postcode and we will confirm before booking anything.