Up to 4,000 Scottish households could benefit from a new £14 million interest-free loan fund to make their homes cheaper to keep warm.

For the first time, housing associations will be able to apply for loans from the Scottish Government’s Home Energy Efficiency Programme Scotland (HEEPS) Loan Scheme.

Until now, the scheme has been open only to owner-occupiers and private landlords.

The cash will help meet the cost of installing energy efficiency measures, like internal or external wall insulation or hard to treat cavity walls.

Housing minister Margaret Burgess said: “For the first time the HEEPS loans scheme will be open to housing associations. This will help ensure their homes meet the higher standards for energy efficiency that have been set by the Scottish Government.

“Last year more than £8m was saved in fuel bills thanks to the HEEPS scheme, covering 30,000 households.

“Since 2009 we have allocated over half a billion pounds on a raft of measures to help the most vulnerable people in our society heat their homes affordably.”

Individual households or private sector landlords looking for a loan should call 0808 808 2282, or visit www.homeenergyscotland.org.

More information on the registered social landlords loan scheme can be found here.