The Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland (Rias) and the Royal Institute of British Architects (Riba) have announced the beginning of 2007's Architect in the House scheme.

Anyone purchasing a new home in the central Scotland belt may be interested in the offer from property design professionals across the region which, for a £40 donation to homeless charity Shelter, plan to provide hour-long consultations with chartered architects.

The time allocated, due to occur in mid-June during Architecture Week, will be given over to architects providing one-to-one advice on sustainability and the creation of an environmentally sound property.

Jack Pringle, president of Riba, said: "This is wonderful opportunity for anyone thinking about design changes to meet with a local architect for some valuable no-strings advice, and in the process helping to improve someone else's housing situation through the work of Shelter.

"With Architecture Week focusing on sustainability this year, it will be a particularly timely opportunity for homeowners to ask for advice on how to make their houses more energy and carbon-efficient."

As a result of the initiative last year, Shelter was able to improve the condition of homes for some 2,500 families.