Debt repayment for loans granted via The Energy Savings Trust: EIR release

Information requested

I am inquiring about information relating to the debt repayment and recovery for domestic and foreign debts in arrears for the years 2018-present in relation to loans granted via Home Energy Scotland and/or The Energy Savings Trust.

Specifically, I would like to get statistics on the following information:

1. Between 2018-present, how many debts fell into arrears?

2. Between 2018-present, of the debts with arrears, what number were sold to debt collection agencies?

3. Between 2018-present, of the debts with arrears that were sold to debt collection agencies in Q2 above, what number have had any amounts >0 recovered by the debt collection agencies?

4. Between 2018-present, of the debts with arrears, what number had legal actions taken against them?

5. What were the average costs of legal or recovery actions taken on a debt in arrears and of those costs what was the average amount recovered?

6. Between 2018-present, how many of the debtors have stopped repayments / refused to engage with repayment plans?

7. How many debtors have moved overseas with outstanding balances?

8. In relation to 7) - How many of these debtors are making regular monthly repayments?

9. What is the lowest value of loan that is currently impaired?

10, What is the highest value of loan that is currently impaired?

11. How many loans that are currently impaired exceed £10,000?

12. Of those engaging with and making repayments domestically, what is the average monthly repayment amount?

13. Of those that are refusing/unable to engage / repay, what action is being taken / considered in relation to this?

Response

For context, debts for loans funded by Scottish Government or Transport Scotland and delivered by the Energy Savings Trust are classified as “impaired” after 3 consecutive scheduled payments are missed.

The information provided relates to debts which are currently impaired and does not include previous impairments which have since been repaid.

1. Between 2018-present, how many debts fell into arrears?

For the period between April 2018 and the end of September 2025, a total of 1,578 unique impaired debts are recorded across loan schemes administered by Energy Savings Trust.

2. Between 2018-present, of the debts with arrears, what number were sold to debt collection agencies?

No debts were sold to debt collection agencies between 2018 and the end of September 2025.

3. Between 2018-present, of the debts with arrears that were sold to debt collection agencies in Q2 above, what number have had any amounts >0 recovered by the debt collection agencies?

No debts were sold to debt collection agencies between April 2018 and the end of September 2025.

4. Between 2018-present, of the debts with arrears, what number had legal actions taken against them?

Between April 2018 and the end of September 2025, 37 had legal action taken against them.

5. What were the average costs of legal or recovery actions taken on a debt in arrears and of those costs what was the average amount recovered?

The average cost incurred per legal action for these cases was £89.19 (inclusive of VAT), and the average amount recovered to end September 2025 was £18.92.

6. Between 2018-present, how many of the debtors have stopped repayments / refused to engage with repayment plans?

From April 2018 – September 2025, a total of 1113 loanees have stopped repayments and refused to engage with repayments plans.

7. How many debtors have moved overseas with outstanding balances?

The scheme administrators, EST have no record of any of the impaired loanees moving outwith the UK.

8. In relation to 7) - How many of these debtors are making regular monthly repayments?

N/A as none are noted to have moved outwith the UK.

9. What is the lowest value of loan that is currently impaired?

The lowest value loan currently impaired is £5.20.

10. What is the highest value of loan that is currently impaired?

The highest value of loan currently impaired is £97,608.

11. How many loans that are currently impaired exceed £10,000?

The number of loans currently impaired that exceed £10,000 is 252.

12. Of those engaging with and making repayments domestically, what is the average monthly repayment amount?

The average monthly repayment of those who are engaging with EST is £166.78.

13. Of those that are refusing/unable to engage / repay, what action is being taken / considered in relation to this?

The Scottish Government is considering a range of options in relation to impaired debt, including but not limited to legal action and reporting debt default to credit agencies.

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