Is grant funding available for major roof repairs in Edinburgh?
Edinburgh World Heritage (EWH), an OSCR registered charity, offers co-funding programmes for major exterior repairs, including slatework, leadwork, chimneys, and gutters, on historic buildings within the Edinburgh World Heritage Site and adjacent conservation areas such as Dean, Marchmont, the Meadows, and Leith Walk. Grant availability and terms change over time, so this page describes the programmes as a starting point, not a guarantee of current funding, and directs you to check ewh.org.uk directly before applying.
This guide is aimed at owners of larger, historic properties facing a repair beyond the scope of a small slate fix, of the kind covered in our full roof replacement guide. It is not aimed at everyday small slipped slate repairs, which do not typically require or qualify for this kind of funding.
Edinburgh World Heritage Conservation Funding
EWH’s conservation funding provides non-repayable co-funding toward major exterior repairs on historic buildings, covering work such as slatework, leadwork, cupola restoration, chimney repair, and guttering, for properties within the World Heritage Site and adjacent conservation areas. Specific co-funding proportions and eligibility depend on the individual project and the programme’s current terms, which are set out on EWH’s own grants page.
Climate Emergency Grant
EWH also runs a Climate Emergency Grant aimed at specialist environmental upgrades to historic buildings, such as enlarging historic rainwater goods and lead gutters to cope with heavier rainfall. As described on EWH’s grants page, this programme can fund up to 70% of eligible costs for approved works, up to a cap of £25,000 per project.
Before you apply
Grant programmes like these change in scope and availability over time, and eligibility depends on a property’s specific location and listing status. Always check the current position directly with Edinburgh World Heritage before assuming a particular programme is open or that a property qualifies.
About Edinburgh World Heritage
Edinburgh World Heritage is registered with the Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR) under charity number SC037183, and works to protect and enhance the Old and New Towns of Edinburgh World Heritage Site.
Email us photos of the roof and what floor it’s on, or how many levels up it is, and we’ll tell you what we need to give you a price.
Facing a bigger repair than a grant enquiry can wait for?
Email us photos of the roof and what floor it’s on, or how many levels up it is, and we’ll tell you what we need to give you a price.
Email us about your roof