Rural homes face £32k bill to replace their gas boilers

40,000 off-grid families have to find costly alternatives to heat pumps

HOMEOWNERS in rural areas could be hit with a £32,000 bill to comply with a drive to banish gas boilers, ministers have admitted.

Remote properties not on the gas grid must replace heating powered by fossil fuel from as early as 2025 under the Scottish Government’s plans.

Scottish Greens minister Patrick Harvie wants current gas boilers to be replaced by air source heat pumps.

But he has now admitted the plan is not suitable for around 40,000 off-grid homes where the pumps cannot be installed.

It leaves homeowners facing vast bills if they have to replace their boilers. Possible alternatives floated by the minister include ‘electric heating or bioenergy from sustainable sources’.

Yet research by the trade association Liquid Gas UK suggests forcing these homes to upgrade to greener electric systems could cost up to £32,000.

Scottish Conservative net zero spokesman Liam Kerr said ministers must urgently announce a plan for off-grid homes.

He said: ‘The fact that tens of thousands of rural homes risk being left behind and exposed tells you everything you need to know about this SNP-Green government. It continually obsesses about the Central Belt while leaving the rest of Scotland in the lurch.’

He added: ‘Given the timescales involved, ministers must urgently set out alternatives for off-grid homes to meet the targets set down by government without being hit in the pocket or inconvenienced.’

Mr Harvie, the minister for zero carbon buildings, said: ‘Heating our homes and buildings is the third-largest cause of emissions in Scotland.

‘Poorly insulated homes and our reliance on fossil fuel heating also leaves households and business exposed to significant energy cost increases such as we have seen over this year. That is why our Heat in Buildings Strategy, supported by £1.8billion over this parliament, sets out ambitious targets to transform how we heat and insulate buildings.

‘The technologies we need are well-established and include air source heat pumps and heat networks and, where these are not available, there are many alternatives.’

He said the Government had doubled the Home Energy Scotland Grant and Loan scheme, which now includes ‘targeted support for those in rural areas’.

He added: ‘Next year we will consult on our proposals and introduce legislation which will provide long-term certainty for property owners and the supply chain, which will help drive prices down for consumers.’

‘Leaving Scotland in the lurch’