In October 2024, official government figures revealed that 340,000 households in Wales (25%) were living in fuel poverty.
Fuel poverty in Wales is defined as a household that spends over 10% of its income just to keep its home adequately heated (21°C in living areas, 18°C in other rooms). Also, after the household has paid for its energy costs, it’s left with an income below the official poverty line.
For households struggling with their heating bills, they can apply for assistance in upgrading their heating systems via the Warm Homes Nest Scheme.
The scheme has helped over 60,000 households since 2011.
But what is the Nest Grant Scheme?
What Is The Nest Grant Scheme?
Usually referred to as the Nest Scheme, its official name is the Welsh Government Warm Homes Nest Scheme. Its aim, as the flagship energy-efficiency programme in Wales, is to help:
Low-income households,
Private homeowners
Private tenants reduce energy bills
Cut carbon footprint
And to help homes stay home and healthy.
Currently, the scheme provides Welsh residents with free and impartial energy advice, which includes guiding them on the following:
Best energy tariffs
What benefits are they entitled to
Best low-carbon technologies
And helping with reducing carbon usage
Homes that are eligible for help from the scheme receive free home energy improvements, including new insulation, boiler repairs, boiler replacements, heat pump installations, and even solar panel installations.
According to the Energy Saving Trust, in the 2023-24 period, it delivered advice to 12,809 households. It also reported that the scheme installed energy-saving measures in 4,816 homes, achieving an average annual energy bill saving of £595 per household.
So, how does one apply for the Nest Grant Scheme?
Boiler Finance Calculator
Price of BoilerFinance available on all orders between £1,000 and £25,000
£740.00
Select a Representive Example:
Affordable
Mid - Range
Premium
Please note the above quotation is an indicative cost and actual monthly payments may vary by +/- 2p per month. Only available to UK residents over 18, subject to terms and conditions. To apply for finance, please add the product to your cart, proceed through checkout and select 'Apply For Finance' as your payment option where you can complete the application form online. Credit is provided by Novuna Personal Finance, a trading style of Mitsubishi HC Capital UK PLC, authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Financial Services Register no. 704348. The register can be accessed through http://www.fca.org.uk
How To Apply For The Nest Scheme
To receive this government grant, you will want to follow a few steps, which include the following:
Are You Eligible For The Nest Scheme?
The primary goal for the Nest Scheme is to assist households who are living in fuel poverty and are potentially exposed to:
Cold, damp homes can cause or worsen respiratory and circulatory illnesses.
Homes under financial stress, where households must choose between “heating or eating.”
And social impacts, with people avoiding certain rooms or limiting activities at home.
To receive help, you need to ensure that you are eligible. These criteria include:
Where You Live And Homeowner Status
To receive assistance from Nest, you must either own your home outright or be a private tenant.
Households living in council housing or housing association properties are not eligible for assistance as the landlords have their own improvement programmes and responsibilities for upgrading heating and insulation.
What’s Your EPC Rating?
The Nest Scheme focuses on properties that are difficult and expensive to keep warm.
This is assessed using your Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating. Usually, an EPC is required when buying and selling a home, or for landlords to provide to their new tenants.
Additionally, an EPC rating is valid for 10 years and is stored online.
EPC ratings are classified as follows, with A being the highest and G being the lowest.
For those wondering what their EPC rating means:
EPC rating of E or below (≤54 points): Homes in this category are typically poorly insulated, have older heating systems, or both.
EPC rating of D or below (≤68 points): You may still qualify if someone in the household has a health condition made worse by the cold.
Conditions that could allow you access to the Nest Scheme are:
Respiratory illnesses
Asthma
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
Bronchitis
Emphysema
Cardiovascular conditions
Coronary Heart Disease
Stroke or history of strokes
Hypertension (high blood pressure)
Heart failure
Metabolic and immune conditions
Diabetes (Type 1 and Type 2)
Weakened immune system (e.g., due to cancer treatment, organ transplant, or long-term steroid use)
Musculoskeletal conditions
Arthritis
Rheumatism
Age-related vulnerability
Older people (particularly over 60s who may be more at risk from cold)
Very young children (babies and toddlers in the home)
Other vulnerabilities
Mental health conditions made worse by cold (e.g., severe depression, anxiety)
Disabilities that limit mobility, making it harder to stay warm
Another route to being eligible for assistance from the Nest Scheme is receiving a means-tested benefit.
Is Anyone In Your Household Receiving Benefits?
As a scheme that’s designed to help households struggling with the cost of keeping their property warm, a major eligibility factor is your home’s income circumstances.
If you or anyone in the household is receiving a means-tested benefit, you’re more than likely to be eligible. These are usually benefits that are linked to your income and savings, such as:
Universal Credit – for those on low income or out of work.
Income Support – for people with low income who don’t have to sign on as unemployed.
Pension Credit (Guarantee or Savings Credit) – for older people on lower incomes.
Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA) – for those actively looking for work but struggling financially.
Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) – for people who can’t work due to illness or disability.
Working Tax Credit or Child Tax Credit – if your income is below certain thresholds.
If you receive any of these, it’s a strong indicator that you could qualify for Nest’s free energy-saving improvements.
Also, if you’re not receiving a means benefit, Nest can still assist you if your household is considered to have a low income.
To be considered a low-income household, it’s usually worked out based on:
The number of people in your household.
Your combined household earnings.
Local living costs in Wales.
For example, a single pensioner with a modest state pension and no savings could qualify, while a family working full-time but still struggling to meet high rent, bills, and childcare costs can also be eligible.
Contact The Nest Scheme
After going through whether or not you’re eligible for help from the Nest Scheme, the next step is to make contact.
Reaching them is as easy as calling the toll-free number 0808 808 2244, Monday to Friday, between 9 am and 6 pm.
If you’d prefer not to phone, you can also request a callback through the Nest website. This is a handy option if you’d rather they ring you when it’s convenient.
Importantly, if you’re more comfortable speaking in Welsh, Nest will happily handle your call or email in Welsh.
Think of this step as your doorway into the scheme: once you’ve made that first contact, an advisor will guide you through the process, answer your questions, and explain what happens next.
Talk With An Advisor About the Nest Scheme
When making contact with a friendly Nest Scheme advisor, they will take the time to understand your exact situation. This is done to ensure that they are matching your household’s needs with the proper support.
They will most likely ask the following questions:
Whether you receive means-tested benefits or have a low income.
If your home is hard to heat or if your heating system is faulty.
Your tenure (own/rent).
Any health conditions in the household affected by the cold.
And your approximate household income and annual energy bill spending.
Even if it turns out you don’t tick all the boxes for full funding, the conversation is still worthwhile.
Nest advisors can give you free advice on cutting energy bills, guidance on benefits you might not be claiming, and money-saving tips tailored to your circumstances.
So, no matter what, you’ll walk away with something useful.
If everything goes according to plan, the Nest Scheme advisor will schedule a home assessment.
Boiler Finance Calculator
Price of BoilerFinance available on all orders between £1,000 and £25,000
£740.00
Select a Representive Example:
Affordable
Mid - Range
Premium
Please note the above quotation is an indicative cost and actual monthly payments may vary by +/- 2p per month. Only available to UK residents over 18, subject to terms and conditions. To apply for finance, please add the product to your cart, proceed through checkout and select 'Apply For Finance' as your payment option where you can complete the application form online. Credit is provided by Novuna Personal Finance, a trading style of Mitsubishi HC Capital UK PLC, authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Financial Services Register no. 704348. The register can be accessed through http://www.fca.org.uk
Home Assessment for the Nest Grant Scheme
As you can imagine, this is an integral part of the Nest process, because it gives a professional a chance to see first-hand how your home performs and what improvements will make the most significant difference.
What are they looking for?
During the visit, the assessor will carry out a thorough check of your property’s energy efficiency.
When assessing your property, these professionals will be looking for:
The condition and age of your heating system (boiler, radiators, or electric heating).
How well your home is insulated, i.e., loft, walls, floors, or room-in-roof spaces.
Signs of drafts, dampness, or poor ventilation that may be making the home harder (and more expensive) to heat.
And whether your home could benefit from renewable technologies such as a heat pump or solar panels, depending on suitability.
The improvements they suggest will ensure that your property’s current EPC rating improves and that your household income can afford lower monthly bills.
Who conducts the assessment?
Only Nest-approved contractors and assessors are allowed to carry out this step.
These are trained, vetted professionals who understand both the technical side (EPC scoring, heating systems, insulation) and the broader aims of the scheme (supporting low-income and vulnerable households).
This means you can trust that their recommendations will be impartial and aligned with Welsh Government standards.
How long does it take?
Most home assessments are completed in a couple of hours, though larger or more complex properties may take a bit longer.
The assessor will walk through the home with you, explain what they’re checking, and may ask a few extra questions about how you currently use your heating or any problem areas you’ve noticed (like cold bedrooms or high bills in winter).
Tips for making the process easier include the following:
Have your paperwork handy: If you have your most recent energy bill and any relevant benefit or income details, keep them nearby.
Clear access: Ensure the assessor can easily access your loft, boiler cupboard, or meter areas. A clear path saves time and ensures nothing gets overlooked.
Point out problem spots: If there are rooms that never heat up properly, or if damp or condensation is a recurring issue, let them know.
Ask questions: The assessor is there to help. If you don’t understand why they’re looking at something, or want clarity on the types of improvements available, ask.
At the end of the assessment, they’ll pull together a tailored recommendation, which is then passed back to Nest for approval.
If approved, the installation stage is the exciting part.
Installation of Improvements
Once your home assessment is complete and your application is approved, this is the exciting part: you’ll get the actual improvements fitted.
Also, just so you know, by qualifying for help from the Nest Scheme, it won’t cost you a thing.
The Nest scheme covers a range of upgrades, all designed to make your home warmer, cheaper to run, and better for your health:
Insulation (loft, cavity wall, underfloor, room-in-roof, etc.)
New boiler or central heating system
Heat pumps or solar panels (this depends on suitability and need)
Nest-approved contractors carry out installations, so you can be confident the work will be done to a professional standard.
They’ll also talk you through how everything works once it’s fitted, so you know how to get the most out of your new system.
However, if you spoke to a friendly Nest Scheme consultant and they suggested upgrading your boiler system via an affordable financial plan, WarmZilla can assist you.
When Not Eligible, Why Not Finance?
Missed out on Nest?
Don’t worry, as WarmZilla’s finance plans have you covered.
Get a new boiler or heating system now and spread the cost over easy monthly payments, rather than paying everything up front.
If you’re looking to discuss these financial plans, feel free to reach out to any of our professionals at our customer care centre.
Have a question? Please contact us on Live Chat
About the Author