Nest Wales — Free Home Energy Improvements for Eligible Households

Nest Wales is the Welsh Government's free energy efficiency scheme, providing free boiler replacements, insulation, heat pumps, and solar panels to eligible households. Unlike ECO4, Nest is government-funded with no announced end date. Since 2011, it has delivered free improvements to over 60,000 Welsh homes. Call 0808 808 2244 for free advice.

The Nest Warm Homes Programme is the Welsh Government's flagship energy efficiency scheme. Running since 2011, it provides free home energy improvements — including boiler replacements, heat pumps, insulation, and solar panels — to eligible homeowners and private tenants across Wales.

Unlike ECO4 (which is funded by energy suppliers and ends December 2026), Nest is funded directly by the Welsh Government and has no announced end date. Since launch, the scheme has delivered free improvements to over 60,000 Welsh households.

Even if you don't qualify for free improvements, Nest provides free energy advice to everyone in Wales — call 0808 808 2244 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 6pm).

What This Actually Looks Like

In January 2026, an 82-year-old Pembrokeshire man was left without heating after his boiler failed. He lived alone with complex health conditions and couldn't afford a plumber — he'd been without hot water for almost a month. After a crisis referral through Care & Repair Cymru:

A Nest engineer visited within hours
A new A-rated combi boiler was installed within three days — he had no heating on a Friday and a warm home by Monday
Two weeks later, a full energy assessment led to free solar panels with battery storage
He now has remote thermostat control (important — he can't access upstairs where the boiler is fitted) and lower energy bills

That's the difference between Nest and most grant schemes. It doesn't just install one thing and leave. It assesses your whole situation and delivers a complete package. And when someone is vulnerable and freezing, it can move in days, not months.

Source: Climate Action Wales (January 2026)

Key Facts

What: Free home energy improvements (boiler, insulation, heat pump, solar panels)
Who: Welsh homeowners and private tenants on means-tested benefits or low income
EPC requirement: E (54) or below — extended to D (68) if someone has an eligible health condition
Cost: Completely free for eligible households
End date: Ongoing (no announced end date)
Since 2011: Over 60,000 households helped
Contact: 0808 808 2244 (free) or request a callback

What Does Nest Provide for Free?

If eligible, Nest arranges a free home assessment and develops a tailored package of improvements specific to your property. This can include:

Heat pump installation — air source or ground source heat pumps
Boiler repair or replacement — if your property is without heating or hot water
Loft insulation — new installation or top-up
Cavity wall insulation — for suitable properties
Solid wall insulation — internal or external
Solar panels — with battery storage where appropriate
First-time central heating — for properties without a heating system

Nest also provides free energy advice to all Welsh households, regardless of eligibility. This includes:

Checking you're on the best energy and water tariff
Benefits checks to boost your household income
Advice on lowering your carbon footprint
Guidance on installing your own low-carbon technology

Source: GOV.WALES — Nest Warm Homes Programme

Think you might qualify for Nest?

Eligibility depends on your income, benefits, and property details. Our checker covers Nest plus all other Welsh and UK-wide schemes.

Check Free

Who Is Eligible for the Nest Scheme?

To qualify for free Nest improvements, you must meet all three criteria:

1. Own or privately rent your home in Wales

If you own your home, you'll need one of the following as evidence:

Mortgage statement
Buildings insurance policy
Property deeds

If you privately rent, you'll need to provide your landlord's details so Nest can request permission for any work.

Not eligible: Local authority or housing association tenants. Contact your housing provider about energy improvements instead.

2. Receive a means-tested benefit OR have a low household income

The following means-tested benefits qualify:

Universal Credit
Pension Credit
Housing Benefit
Income Support
Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance
Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
Council Tax Reduction (related to income)
Child Tax Credit (individual income below £18,660/year)
Working Tax Credit (individual income below £18,660/year)

You'll need to provide evidence such as a benefit award letter or Council Tax statement.

Low-Income Thresholds (If Not on Benefits)

If you don't receive a qualifying benefit, you may still be eligible based on your household income. Thresholds depend on your household composition and are based on total household income after mortgage or rental payments. Disability-related payments are not counted as income.

Couples

Household type	Weekly	Monthly	Annual
Couple, no children	£404	£1,751	£21,015
Couple, 1 child under 14	£485	£2,102	£25,218
Couple, 1 child 14+	£538	£2,329	£27,950
Couple, 2 children under 14	£566	£2,452	£29,421
Couple, 2 children 14+	£671	£2,907	£34,885

Single adults

Household type	Weekly	Monthly	Annual
Single adult, no children	£271	£1,173	£14,080
1 adult, 1 child under 14	£352	£1,524	£18,283
1 adult, 1 child 14+	£404	£1,751	£21,015
1 adult, 2 children under 14	£432	£1,874	£22,486
1 adult, 2 children 14+	£538	£2,329	£27,950

Pensioners

Household type	Weekly	Monthly	Annual
Single pensioner	£271	£1,173	£14,080
Pensioner couple	£404	£1,751	£21,015

If your household is not described in these tables, call Nest on 0808 808 2244.

Source: GOV.WALES — Nest Eligibility Criteria

3. Your home must have a poor EPC rating

Your property's Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) must be rated:

E (54) or below — standard eligibility
D (68) or below — if someone in your household has an eligible chronic health condition

If your EPC is D (68) or below but no one in your household has an eligible condition, your details will be placed on a reserve list.

Don't know your EPC rating? Check your EPC on GOV.UK or call Nest and they'll help you.

Eligible Health Conditions

If someone in your household has one of the following chronic health conditions, the EPC threshold is extended from E to D (68) or below:

Respiratory disease — respiratory infections, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
Circulatory disease — cardiovascular disease, strokes, heart attacks
Mental health conditions — depression, anxiety, psychosis, bipolar disorders
Dementia
Intellectual and developmental disorders

You must provide evidence such as a prescription, medication package, treatment plan, or GP/hospital appointment letter.

Source: GOV.WALES — Nest Eligibility

Why This Matters — Fuel Poverty in Wales

According to the Welsh Government's latest modelled estimates (published August 2025, using October 2024 data):

340,000 households (25%) in Wales are estimated to be living in fuel poverty
63,000 households (5%) are in severe fuel poverty
215,000 households (16%) are at risk of fuel poverty
304,000 vulnerable households (26%) are in fuel poverty
Average household energy bills are 37% higher than in 2021/22 — from £1,360 to £1,850

One in four Welsh homes can't afford to stay warm. That's more than double the rate in England (11.4%), largely because Wales has older housing stock, more rural off-gas-grid properties, and lower average incomes. If that's you, Nest exists specifically to help — and unlike UK-wide schemes that come and go, it's been running since 2011 with no end date. If you're in England rather than Wales, see our city-by-city grant guides for local support — areas like Hull and Manchester have dedicated council teams.

Source: GOV.WALES — Fuel Poverty Modelled Estimates for Wales, October 2024

Check What You Qualify For in Wales

We cross-reference your details against Nest, ECO4, and the Boiler Upgrade Scheme — showing you every grant available for your property.

Check My Eligibility — Free

Takes 2 minutes No sign-up All UK schemes

How to Apply for Nest Wales

Step 1: Contact Nest

Phone: 0808 808 2244 (free, Monday to Friday, 9am to 6pm)
Online: Request a callback from Nest
Email: advicewales@est.org.uk

Croesawir galwadau ac e-byst yn Gymraeg / Calls and emails are welcomed in Welsh.

Step 2: Eligibility Check

A Nest advisor will check your eligibility based on your tenure, income/benefits, EPC rating, and health conditions. You'll need to provide evidence of home ownership (or landlord details) and benefits.

Step 3: Free Home Assessment

If eligible, Nest arranges for an assessor to visit your property. They'll gather information about your home and develop a tailored package of improvements specific to your property and circumstances.

Step 4: Installation

Approved installers carry out the work at no cost to you. In urgent cases — such as a boiler failure leaving someone without heating — Nest can act quickly, sometimes within days.

Source: GOV.WALES — How to Apply for Nest

Nest vs ECO4 — What's the Difference?

Feature	Nest Wales	ECO4
Funded by	Welsh Government	Energy suppliers (UK-wide)
End date	Ongoing (no end date)	31 December 2026
Coverage	Wales only	England, Scotland & Wales
Tenure	Homeowners & private tenants	All tenures including social housing
EPC requirement	E or below (D with health condition)	D or below
Income test	Detailed thresholds by household type	Benefits-based or LA Flex referral
Improvements	Boiler, insulation, heat pump, solar panels	Primarily insulation
Apply via	Call Nest: 0808 808 2244	Energy supplier or installer

Key point for Welsh residents: You may be eligible for both Nest and ECO4. They are separate schemes and one does not disqualify you from the other. ECO4 ends December 2026 with no successor scheme announced, so apply for both while you can.

Other Schemes Available in Wales

Welsh residents can also access:

Boiler Upgrade Scheme — Up to £7,500 towards a heat pump (no income test, available UK-wide)
ECO4 — Free insulation for eligible households (ends December 2026)
Warm Homes Plan — The UK Government's broader programme (£15 billion investment)
Great British Insulation Scheme — Ends 31 March 2026

Not sure which scheme is right for you? Use our free eligibility checker to see all the grants you may qualify for, or call Nest — they can help you navigate all available options.

What If I'm Not Eligible?

Even if you don't qualify for free Nest improvements, calling Nest is still worthwhile. Their advisors can:

Check if you're entitled to benefits you're not claiming (especially Pension Credit, which unlocks multiple grants)
Help you find the best energy and water tariff
Refer you to other schemes: ECO4, Boiler Upgrade Scheme, Great British Insulation Scheme
Provide free energy-saving advice

Call 0808 808 2244 — the advice is free regardless of eligibility.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I get a free boiler through Nest Wales?

Yes, Nest can provide a free boiler repair or replacement if your property is without heating or hot water and you meet the eligibility criteria. You must own or privately rent your home, receive a means-tested benefit or be on a low income, and your home must have a poor EPC rating.

What are the Nest Wales income thresholds?

Income thresholds depend on your household composition. For example: a single adult with no children — £14,080/year; a couple with no children — £21,015/year; a couple with two children under 14 — £29,421/year. Thresholds are based on total household income after mortgage or rental payments. Disability-related payments are not counted as income.

Can tenants apply for the Nest scheme?

Private tenants can apply with landlord consent. You will need to provide your landlord's details so Nest can request permission for any work. Local authority and housing association tenants are not eligible for Nest — contact your housing provider about energy improvements.

What health conditions qualify for the extended EPC threshold?

Eligible conditions include respiratory disease (asthma, COPD), circulatory disease (cardiovascular disease, strokes, heart attacks), mental health conditions (depression, anxiety, psychosis, bipolar disorders), dementia, and intellectual and developmental disorders. You must provide evidence such as a prescription, treatment plan, or GP letter.

Is Nest the same as ECO4?

No. Nest is a Welsh Government scheme funded by the Welsh Government. ECO4 is a UK-wide scheme funded by energy suppliers. Welsh residents may be eligible for both. ECO4 ends December 2026, while Nest is an ongoing programme with no announced end date.

Can I get solar panels through Nest Wales?

Yes, solar panels are one of the improvements Nest can provide. Following a home assessment, Nest may recommend solar panels with battery storage as part of your tailored package of improvements.

How do I apply for Nest Wales?

Call Nest free on 0808 808 2244 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 6pm), request a callback online, or email advicewales@est.org.uk. Calls and emails are welcomed in Welsh. If eligible, Nest will arrange a free home assessment.

What if I'm not eligible for Nest?

Even if you don't qualify for Nest improvements, you can still call 0808 808 2244 for free energy advice. Nest advisors can help you find other schemes including ECO4, the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, and the Great British Insulation Scheme. They can also check your benefits entitlements and help you find the best energy tariff.

⏰ ECO4 closes December 2026 — some suppliers have already met their targets

Don't wait until the deadline. Check what you qualify for while both schemes are still open.

Check Before It's Too Late

The Bottom Line

A quarter of Welsh homes are in fuel poverty. If yours is one of them, Nest is the single best phone call you can make. It's not a token gesture — it's a complete service that's been running for 15 years, has helped over 60,000 households, and can go from first call to new boiler in days when it needs to.

Even if you're not sure you qualify, call anyway. The advice is free, and Nest advisors regularly identify benefits people didn't know they were entitled to. You've got nothing to lose and a warmer home to gain.

Call Nest free: 0808 808 2244 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 6pm)
Request a callback online
Email: advicewales@est.org.uk

Or use our free eligibility checker to see all the grants you may qualify for across the UK.

Energy Grants in Your Area

Nest covers Wales, but UK-wide schemes are available too. Check grants near you:

Energy grants in Hull — highest-qualifying area in England
Energy grants in Nottingham
Energy grants in Manchester
Energy grants in Newcastle
Energy grants by city — all areas