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Free
Central Heating has made a huge difference to people’s lives in the Three
Towns and the Garnock Valley in the years since
it was first introduced.
Private sector householders aged between 60 and 79
years and in receipt of the guaranteed element of Pension Credit are now
eligible
under the scheme.
The Scottish Executive’s
popular Central Heating Programme, managed by Communities Scotland, the
housing and regeneration agency, is being extended from 1st January 2007.
Private sector householders aged between 60 and 79 years and in receipt of
the guaranteed element of Pension Credit are now eligible under the scheme
if their home central heating is partial or inefficient.
Under the central heating scheme 77,000 new systems have been installed
since 2001 including 53,000 in the homes of private sector householders.
Many of these systems were installed in pensioners’ homes where there was
previously no central heating. In addition, those aged over 80 with partial
or inefficient systems qualified for free replacement central heating. The
new extension will allow more householders with partial or inefficient
systems to qualify for replacements.
Scottish Gas, which manages the scheme, has been asked by Communities
Scotland on behalf of Ministers to consider, in the first instance,
applications under the extended arrangements from those aged over 75.
Local MSP Allan Wilson said:
“Free Central Heating has made a huge difference to people’s lives in the
Three Towns and the Garnock Valley in the years since it was first
introduced. The installation of efficient heating systems, often allied with
improved insulation measures, helps reduce fuel bills and makes life more
comfortable for vulnerable people.
“The additional investment of £5 million announced in November allows us to
take forward the expansion of the scheme. Phasing in the extension by
prioritising installations for those between 75 and 80 years of age is
consistent with the approach previously taken by the Scottish Executive”
said Mr Wilson.
The extension of this element of the programme expands the eligibility for
those with partial or inefficient systems which currently lies only with the
over-80s.
Applications from people between 60 and 75 will be considered once the
initial demand from the over-75s who qualify, as well as those waiting for
new systems under the current scheme, has been met by Scottish Gas and its
contractors throughout Scotland.
Those private sector householders who are over 60 on guaranteed pension
credit and who have no central heating or whose system has broken down
beyond reasonable repair, remain eligible for a new or upgraded free central
heating system, although new arrangements are being introduced to encourage
repair rather than replacement where this is cost-effective.
The new regulations also extend the Warm Deal programme to households with
children with disabilities and receiving the disability living allowance.
These homes can have free insulation measures installed up to the value of
£500.
NOTES:
1. The Home Energy Efficiency Scheme (Scotland) Regulations come into effect
on 1 January 2007.
2. Since 2001 around 77,000 central heating systems have been installed
under the Central Heating Programme. This includes 53,000 free central
heating systems installed in the homes of private sector householders over
60.
3. 231,000 homes have been insulated since the Warm Deal programme began six
years ago - over 1 in 10 of Scotland’s housing stock.
4. At present systems requiring repairs costing more than £200 are replaced.
The regulations raise the threshold to £400 and provide for the system to be
repaired under the programme rather than replaced if the cost of repair is
less than £750.
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