Changes to Heat with Rent payments

Some tenants pay for their heating through a weekly charge called Heat with Rent (HWR). The charge depends on how many rooms are in their home. These homes are heated with electric storage heaters.

The timers that power these heaters are being switched off in June so some tenants need to take action now.

From 2 March 2025, Heat with Rent (HWR) payments will end and tenants must

• switch their heating supply to another energy supplier
• change the way they pay for their heating.

We have written to all tenants who this could affect. The charge will only affect some tenants in

• Citadel Court
• Cobbinshaw House North
• Cobbinshaw House South
• Drovers Bank
• Dunsyre House North
• Dunsyre House South
• Inchcolm Court
• Inchgarvie Court
• Kilncroft
• Medwin House North
• Medwin House South
• Midcairn
• Persevere Court

If you are a Council tenant and your main energy supplier is Scottish Power, then you do not need to switch to another supplier.

Tenants last Heat With Rent (HWR) charge was 17 February 2025. We have removed the heating charge from future rent payments.

How you paid for HWR

Homes with radio teleswitches (RTS) are heated with storage heaters. Tenants paid a set weekly charge called Heat with Rent (HWR). The charge was based on the number of rooms in the home.

HWR homes have two electricity meters:

• HWR meter. This links to your storage heaters. The Council currently pays Scottish Power to supply electricity through this meter and recovers the cost from your rent.
• Main meter. This provides electricity for all your other energy needs (e.g. lights, tv, kitchen appliances etc). You pay the energy supplier you appointed for this electricity use

What you need to do

The last payment of the Heat with Rent charge was 17 February. This means tenants don’t need to do anything until Monday 3 March. From that date they must

• take a note of the readings on your meter
• contact the energy supplier you use for your general electricity supply. You can do this online or by phone depending on the supplier
• tell your supplier
  • your home has a separate electrical heat meter
  • you want to join this to your electric supply and get a new smart meter installed
  • you want to make sure you are on the right tariff because you have storage heaters
• arrange a time with your energy supplier to install a smart meter.

It’s important that you request a smart meter if you do not already have one. This will make sure you’re not affected when your RTS is switched off in June. 

If you don't switch to one supplier

If you don't switch to one energy supplier, you will pay

• a standing charge and tariff to Scottish Power for space heaters
• a standing charge and tariff to another supplier for other energy use.

This could end up being more expensive for you. You may also experience problems from June when the RTS are turned off.

How costs might change

Currently tenants pay on average of £965 in a small flat and £1,284 in a large flat each year for both their HWR and general electricity costs. The changes to the way your pay for heating mean that average costs will increase.

• In smaller flats, costs will rise to an average of £1,392 per year for all your electricity and heating costs.
• In a larger flat, costs will rise to an average of £2,024 per year for all your electricity and heating costs.

These figures are based on average energy usage. If you use a lot of energy and heating then your actual costs may be higher. If you don’t use your heating then they’ll be lower. Costs are based on current tariffs and energy caps so they may change.

Average gas and electricity usge explained

Energy price cap standing charges and unit rates by region

Help with using your storage heaters

If you need information about how to get the most heat out of your storage heaters, visit the Changeworks website.

For a printed copy of the advice, contact Changeworks through their website or call on 0131 555 4010.