Wheatley: Making homes and lives better in Scotland
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Social landlord in Edinburgh and West Lothian is going above and beyond to help tenants.
Customers are feeling the benefit of the second year of Wheatley Homes East’s £21.7m investment programme.
A total of £16.2m of that investment will be spent in Edinburgh; £4.4m in West Lothian; and £1.1m in other areas.
Wheatley Homes East customer Morgan Fernie, 24, knows just what a difference this investment can make.
Wheatley recently replaced all the windows in his flat as part of a £108,000 programme and put in a brand-new bathroom.
Morgan, who has been a Wheatley customer for six years, said: “The new windows have made a huge difference. Before the windows were cracking and leaking, they were very old looking.
“The new windows really keep the heat in and are amazing. They make my flat look so much better, more modern. I’m hoping they will also help bring my heating bills down.”
He is also impressed with his new bathroom, adding: “The new bathroom has also made a big difference and makes my flat look so much better. It’s much nicer to be in.”
Morgan isn’t the only Wheatley customer to benefit from new windows. In 2025, the social landlord spent £50,000 on new windows for 11 customers in Skibo Court, Dunfermline.
Nearly £700,000 was also invested in major roof and stonework repairs to two pre-1919 tenements in McLeod Street and Murdoch Terrace in Edinburgh.
And, in October, work started on new roofs and preventative planned maintenance works at Morrison Crescent, costing £150,000.
Over the next two years, further works will include installing new kitchens in 500 homes and fitting new front or back doors at nearly 350 properties.
Other work includes extra energy-efficiency improvements installed in 500 homes, including 50 new electric heating systems and around 450 new gas boilers.
Laura Henderson, Managing Director of Wheatley Homes East, said: “We’re investing millions of pounds every year in our homes and communities.
“Customers are already seeing the benefits with our investment last year on new windows, bathrooms and other significant maintenance work in our homes.
These investments to improve homes and communities will continue over the next two years. This includes more customers benefitting from the installation of double glazing, which will help keep their homes warmer and lower fuel bills.
Wheatley: Investing in education
A mum-of-five from West Lothian says an education bursary from Wheatley was a ‘huge help’.
Wheatley Foundation offers education bursaries of up to £1500 a year for full-time students and £750 a year for part-time students to help with the cost of their studies.
It’s another way Wheatley helps customers achieve their dreams of higher education and fulfil their potential.
Wheatley Homes East tenant Nicola Jack, 49, studied for an HNC in Health and Social Services at West Lothian College.
She said: “The bursary has been a huge help for me. It helped me cover travel costs for getting to and from my course, as well as helping with the household bills.
“With the cost of living at the moment, it has made such a difference.
“I have a friend who was lucky enough to get a bursary, and that encouraged me to apply. I was delighted to be successful, and it really helped.
“I’ve now finished the course, and I hope to go on and work with older people – particularly those with dementia or physical disabilities.”
Almost 500 people in Wheatley communities across Scotland have been helped to study at college or university thanks to a Wheatley education bursary since it launched in 2016.
Wheatley Homes tenants who are interested in applying should talk to their housing officer or call 0800 561 0088.
You can find out more about Wheatley Homes East here.