Social housing and estate programmes across Edinburgh
We cover Edinburgh and its surrounding districts.
Wind-driven rain is the first thing the surveyor weighs up. Edinburgh has a mix of moderate and more exposed sites. Hilltop, coastal and west-facing walls take the brunt of wind-driven rain, so the survey records exposure for each elevation before a material is chosen.
For commercial buildings in Edinburgh, the survey also considers building use and fire requirements before a material is specified. Work on Edinburgh rented homes and blocks is booked around tenants and residents, with access arranged through your agent if you prefer.
Building standards in Scotland
In Scotland, work associated with thermal insulating material within a wall is listed in schedule 3 of the Building (Scotland) Regulations as work that does not need a building warrant. It must still meet the building standards, so the survey still checks that the wall and the chosen material are suitable, including exposure to wind-driven rain.
Funding in Scotland
- Home Energy Scotland is the starting point for the Home Energy Scotland Grant and Loan and for Warmer Homes Scotland, which can include cavity wall insulation.
- Many councils also run area-based schemes for insulation in particular streets or estates.
- ECO4 runs until 31 December 2026 across Great Britain, including Scotland.
Sources: Scottish Government: building work not requiring a warrant (schedule 3); Home Energy Scotland; mygov.scot: grants and loans for energy saving improvements; GOV.UK: extending the ECO4 end date, government response.
Quality after ECO
The National Audit Office's October 2025 report found serious failings in some government-funded installs. We work survey-first, record every stage, and name the installer and guarantee on each order.
What is included
- Stock and archetype surveys
- Resident liaison
- Per-address records
- Remediation programmes
Social housing and estate programmes prices in Edinburgh
| Social housing and estate programmes guide prices | Guide price |
|---|---|
| Commercial cavity fill, per m² (+VAT) | £22–£36 |
| Access towers or MEWP, per day (+VAT) | £195–£495 |
No VAT is charged on installing insulation in homes until 31 March 2027 (then 5%). Guide ranges only: the fixed price is confirmed in writing before any work starts, and anything that could not be seen at survey is agreed with you first.
The steps for social housing and estate programmes in Edinburgh:
Tell us about the property
Postcode, property type and what you need.
Free survey
Walls, cavity, condition and exposure checked and photographed.
Written result and price
Suitable, suitable after repairs, or not suitable, with a fixed price.
Work and paperwork
Installation, making good, and the regulations and guarantee paperwork.