A SCHEME has been launched to ensure older tenants of Scotland’s largest social landlord know their homes are ready for winter.

Wheatley Group’s WinterReady initiative is free to almost 16,000 tenants across central Scotland who are aged 60 or over.

It included checking the heating system, the radiators and pipes, guidance on how best to set heating and advice on how to avoid frozen pipes.

December starts on Thursday and the Met Office’s latest long range weather forecast predicts the month is likely to be colder than normal.

To launch the WinterReady initiative, TV weather man Sean Batty visited Elizabeth Bashir at her home in Cardonald to see the checks being carried out.

He said: “You can never be too prepared for the coldest months and Wheatley is doing a great job in making sure its older tenants are ready for whatever winter brings.

“The end of November came as a bit of a shock to most with temperatures remaining sub zero on a few of the days.

“The temperature dropped to -8C at Glasgow Airport early on November 25 and Glasgow and Renfrewshire experienced their coldest weather since 2011.

“In the last seven years we have had wild swings from severe cold and ice to severe storms and floods. We must be prepared for all the elements that can be thrown at us during the winter months.”

Ms Bashir said she was glad she had decided to take advantage of the WinterReady scheme.

She added: “The young man explained everything in great detail and I feel a lot more prepared. I’m all ready for winter now.”

Wheatley Group’s six social landlords, who provide more than 51,000 homes for social rent across central Scotland, are all taking part in the scheme.

Tenants of Glasgow Housing Association, Cube, West Lothian Housing Partnership, Loretto, Dunedin, Canmore and Barony can all book a visit from one of the WinterReady plumbers by speaking to their housing officer or giving their landlord a call.

To stay safe this winter you should have regular hot drinks and at least one hot meal a day, wear several light layers of warm clothes to keep the heat in and keep active.

Wrap up warmly if you go outside and draw your curtains at dusk and keep doors closed to keep draughts out,

Keep rooms at between 64F and 70F, check dripping taps and overflows to prevent freezing of waste pipes, make sure you have had your annual gas service and leave heating on for a couple of hours a day if you are away for some time.