For some homeowners in Perthshire, solar panels may be available without paying the installation cost out of pocket. The funded solar offer Herofix helps homeowners access, working alongside local partners, is aimed at households that meet specific age-or-family and income criteria, with a free survey arranged for households that pass the initial eligibility check.
The offer covers fully funded solar panels, the survey, system design and full installation. Funding is limited, however, and meeting the initial criteria does not guarantee that a roof will be suitable or that funding will still be available.
Who may qualify for funded solar panels?
The programme has two eligibility routes. Your household may qualify if:
- Someone who lives in your home is aged 65 or over and total household earnings are under £31,000; or
- A child under five lives in your home and total household earnings are under £31,000.
The income limit applies to both routes. If your household does not meet one of these descriptions, you may not qualify through this particular offer, but there may be other ways to explore solar or home-energy improvements.
These criteria are part of the advertised programme, not a general promise that every household in Scotland can get free panels. Eligibility, the funding available and the terms may change. Check the current details directly with us for more information.
> Quick eligibility checklist
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> - Is your home in Perthshire?
> - Does someone aged 65 or over live there, or does a child under five live there?
> - Are total household earnings below £31,000?
> - Are you enquiring as a homeowner?
> - Can you provide the information requested on the current eligibility form?
If you are unsure how household earnings are assessed, or how a particular living arrangement affects eligibility, get in touch.
Why is fully funded solar available to some households?
Funding programmes can direct support towards households more exposed to energy costs, including older people and families with very young children. The programme’s advertised criteria use household earnings alongside one of these age-related circumstances.
The practical benefit is that qualifying homeowners can explore solar without having to pay the purchase and installation cost themselves. The offer is described as covering the panels, survey, system design and full installation. It is not the same as a loan, which has to be repaid, or a general entitlement available to every homeowner.
How to apply in Perthshire: the process step by step
1. Complete the eligibility form. Provide the details requested so the team can make an initial check.
2. Wait for an eligibility check. If your household appears to meet the criteria, Herofix can arrange a free survey. Passing this first check is not the same as final approval: the survey and current funding availability still matter.
3. Have the property surveyed. The survey helps establish whether the roof and property are suitable for a solar installation. The surveyor can assess the roof and discuss the system design needed for your home. The survey is the stage that confirms suitability; eligibility alone cannot do that.
4. Confirm the terms before installation. If the roof is suitable and funding is available, Herofix can explain the proposed installation and next steps. Make sure you understand what the funding covers and whether any costs or conditions apply to your particular property.
5. Arrange the funded installation. If everything is approved, the solar panels are installed under the programme’s current terms.
What happens at a solar survey?
A survey is about more than checking whether there is space for panels. The installer needs to assess the roof and work out whether a suitable system can be designed for the home. Roof condition, layout and potential shading can all affect what is practical. The survey is also your chance to ask questions about the proposed design, installation and the conditions of the funded offer.
Perthshire homes vary widely. A property in a Perth suburb such as Scone or Bridge of Earn may have a different roof layout and surrounding shade from a rural home near Blairgowrie, Crieff, Kinross, Dunkeld or Aberfeldy. Older stone buildings and homes in exposed locations may also need careful assessment. That is why an online eligibility check cannot confirm whether a particular roof is suitable.
Is fully funded solar really free?
“Fully funded” means the programme is intended to cover the cost of the solar panels and installation for eligible homes, rather than the homeowner paying that cost out of pocket. The offer also includes the survey and system design.
Still, check the current terms before proceeding. Ask what is included, whether any additional equipment or work is excluded, and whether there are conditions attached to the installation. Funding is subject to the allocated funds being available, and suitability is confirmed by the survey.
It is also worth separating this offer from other support. For example, 0% VAT on qualifying energy-saving materials is a tax relief, not a grant: it can reduce the VAT charged on eligible work but does not pay the full installation cost. The current published VAT relief is due to end in March 2027; check the government’s information on VAT relief for the latest position.
What if you don’t qualify?
Not qualifying for the funded solar offer does not necessarily mean you have no options. You could:
- Ask about the Warm Homes Loan Scheme. A loan is repayable, and eligibility, lender requirements and availability apply. Check the official eligibility information and confirm that a suitable product is currently available to you.
- Check whether 0% VAT relief applies to any planned qualifying installation. It reduces VAT; it does not make the work free.
- Contact Home Energy Scotland for advice on current Scottish support. Its published grant-and-loan information includes various heating and energy-efficiency measures; check directly whether any current support applies to the specific solar system you are considering.
- Request a quote to understand the cost of a standard solar installation and discuss whether it suits your home.
If you’d like some more information, or think you might qualify, please feel free to get in touch with us at hello@herofix.com.
Frequently asked questions
Some programmes offer funded solar to eligible households, including the funded solar offer Herofix helps homeowners access through its local partners. It is not a universal Scottish entitlement, and funding availability and criteria can change.
The advertised criteria are either a resident aged 65 or over, or a child under five living in the home, with total household earnings under £31,000. The funding itself comes from Herofix’s local partners; Herofix handles the eligibility check, survey and installation. The survey must also confirm that the roof is suitable, and funding must be available.
Herofix arranges a free survey for households that pass the initial eligibility check. The survey assesses whether the roof is suitable and informs the system design. It is the survey, not the eligibility form, that confirms suitability.
Start with the eligibility form on Herofix’s grants page. If your household appears to qualify, a free survey can be arranged. The process applies to homeowners across Perthshire, including Perth, Scone, Bridge of Earn, Blairgowrie, Crieff, Kinross, Dunkeld and Aberfeldy, subject to current availability and survey results.
You can ask Herofix about other options, check whether a repayable Warm Homes Loan is available and suitable, look into applicable VAT relief, or contact Home Energy Scotland for advice on current support. These options have different eligibility rules and do not necessarily cover the full cost of solar panels.
To check the latest eligibility criteria and funding availability, visit Herofix’s available grants page or contact the Herofix team.
