Nest scheme Wales — free home energy upgrades (2026)
Welsh Government-funded scheme paying for insulation, heating, and sometimes double glazing for qualifying low-income households across Wales.
The Nest scheme (sometimes written Nyth — the Welsh spelling) is Wales’s flagship fuel-poverty programme. Administered by British Gas on behalf of the Welsh Government since 2011, it provides free home-energy assessments plus fully funded upgrades for qualifying Welsh households. Glazing funding isn’t always top priority in Nest — the scheme focuses heavily on heating and insulation — but it is sometimes covered where single glazing is a material energy issue.
Who qualifies
You’re likely to qualify for Nest if all three of these are true:
- You own or privately rent your home in Wales
- Your home is poorly energy-efficient (typically EPC rating E, F, or G; D may qualify in some cases)
- You or someone in your household receives a qualifying means-tested benefit OR has a health condition aggravated by cold AND your household income is below a specified threshold
Qualifying benefits include: Universal Credit, Pension Credit, Income-based JSA, Income-related ESA, Income Support, Housing Benefit, Child Tax Credit, Working Tax Credit, Personal Independence Payment (PIP), Attendance Allowance, Disability Living Allowance, Carer’s Allowance.
What’s covered
Nest’s funded measures, in typical priority order:
- New boiler (if the existing one is broken or over a certain age) — most common Nest measure
- Central heating system for properties currently without one
- Loft insulation
- Cavity wall insulation
- Double glazing — usually only if the existing windows are single-glazed and have a significant thermal impact
- Smart thermostats and heating controls
Important: Nest prioritises the measure that will deliver the biggest energy-efficiency improvement for the property. For most Welsh homes that’s either a boiler (if old/broken) or insulation (if poorly insulated). Windows often come second. If your home has a working modern boiler and good insulation but single-glazed windows, Nest may not fund the windows as a stand-alone measure — because the efficiency gain is smaller than other options.
How to apply
- Call Nest on 0808 808 2244 or apply online at nest.gov.wales. Call is free from landlines and mobiles
- An advisor will do a free home-energy assessment (by phone or in person) to check eligibility and identify priority measures
- If you qualify, Nest arranges installers, manages the installation, and pays directly. You don’t pay anything
- Work is usually completed within 8-16 weeks of approval
What if Nest doesn’t cover windows for your property
Welsh households also qualify for ECO4 — the UK-wide scheme — which runs alongside Nest. ECO4 has different criteria and may fund windows when Nest doesn’t. See our ECO4 guide. You can apply to both; they’ll coordinate to avoid duplicating measures.
If you don’t qualify for either scheme, you still save significantly by comparing quotes from FENSA-registered installers. Findfitter matches 4 vetted installers in your postcode — free, no obligation.
Frequently asked questions
Does Nest cover rented properties?
Yes — private-rented tenants can apply if they meet the income and benefit criteria, and their landlord consents to the work. The landlord doesn’t pay. Social housing is usually covered by the landlord’s own energy-efficiency programmes rather than Nest.
Is Nest really completely free?
For qualifying households, yes. Nest covers 100% of measure costs for eligible applicants. There’s no application fee, no installation contribution, no ongoing cost. The scheme is funded by the Welsh Government’s energy-efficiency budget.
My property has a D-rated EPC — will I qualify?
Possibly. Nest’s EPC threshold is usually E or worse, but D-rated properties can qualify if there’s a strong reason — for example, an elderly or vulnerable resident, or if the property has specific poor-performance elements that bring down comfort even with a D rating overall. Apply and let Nest’s assessor decide.
How does Nest compare to ECO4?
They’re similar in purpose but differ in administration. Nest is Welsh-Government-funded and run by British Gas (as scheme administrator). ECO4 is UK-wide, funded by energy suppliers under government obligation. Nest tends to be quicker for fully-funded work. ECO4 can be more generous on specific measures like windows. Apply to both; the best funding for your situation will emerge from the assessment.
How long will Nest run?
The current Nest contract (Nest Plus) runs through 2026-2027. The Welsh Government has committed to continuing a fuel-poverty programme beyond that, though the exact form may change. If you qualify now, apply now — scheme transitions typically cause 3-6 month delays.
Sources
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