Who is the Nest Scheme for?

The Nest Scheme is a Welsh Government initiative that, since 2011, has helped over 60,000 households to lower their energy bills and improve the energy efficiency of their properties.

These home improvements include upgrading heating systems, enhancing insulation, and installing solar panels for water heating.

But who exactly is the Nest Scheme for?

Before we get ahead of ourselves, let’s clarify exactly what the Nest Scheme is.

What Is The Nest Scheme?

The Nest Scheme is a programme that’s been successfully run by the Welsh Government since 2011. During that time, the scheme has been actively helping people make their homes warmer, healthier, and more affordable to heat.

Also, the Nest Scheme is only for residents living in Wales.

To be eligible for help from the government, your home is cold, draughty, or expensive to run. The Nest Scheme assists Welsh residents via:

• Providing free advice on how to save energy and cut down on bills.
• And funding home improvements, such as better insulation, a new boiler, or even renewable energy upgrades.

Households who qualify do not need to pay, and the work is completed free of charge.

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Who’s The Nest Scheme For?

The primary target market for the Nest Scheme is residents of Wales who struggle with high energy bills, live in cold properties, or have homes that are inefficient at maintaining heat.

This demographic can also be broken down into four main groups:

Homeowners And Private Tenants In Wales

As mentioned, only homeowners or those renting from a private landlord are eligible. Those living in a social housing development are generally supported through separate schemes.

For those living in a social housing development, you can apply for the following:

Optimised Retrofit Programme (ORP)

This Welsh Government initiative is specifically for Registered Social Landlords and local authorities. This programme is currently in its third phase, focusing on energy efficiency, decarbonisation, and alignment with the Welsh Housing Quality Standard 2023.

Energy Company Obligation (ECO4)

A UK government scheme, and overseen by Ofgem, that assists private and social housing tenants across England, Scotland, and Wales.

Under ECO4, the energy suppliers are required to fund improvement projects that include upgrades to insulation, heating, and installation of environmentally friendly heating options.

Low-Income Households

One of the criteria for applying to the Nest Scheme is whether someone in the household is claiming a means-tested benefit.

These include:

• Universal Credit (UC)
• Income Support
• Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA-IB)
• Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA-IR)
• Pension Credit (Guarantee Credit and Savings Credit)
• Housing Benefit
• Child Tax Credit (CTC)
• Working Tax Credit (WTC)

However, households with a low income who may not qualify for benefits but still struggle to afford heating can still be eligible for help from the Nest Scheme.

People With Health Conditions

Those with chronic illnesses or health issues made worse by living in a cold home, for example, respiratory or cardiovascular conditions.

Health conditions that make a household eligible for help include the following:

• 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

Cold homes can trigger breathing problems, strain the heart, and weaken the immune system. That’s why the Welsh Government uses these health conditions as part of Nest’s eligibility criteria.

Households in Fuel Poverty

When we discuss fuel poverty, we refer to households that are struggling to afford their energy bills.

It’s not just about high costs; instead, it’s about the impact on day-to-day living.

For some families or individuals, a big chunk of their income goes straight to energy. After covering rent, food, and other essentials, there’s often not much left over, and heating the home becomes a real struggle. If you are living in fuel poverty and your home is poorly insulated or underheated, the problem only worsens. These homes are more expensive to heat yet never feel properly warm.

Now that we know who the Nest scheme is for, how does one apply?

Boiler Finance Calculator

Price of BoilerFinance available on all orders between £1,000 and £25,000

£1850 Deposit Percentage

40% (Max)30%20%10%0%

£740.00

APR %

0% 12.9%

Pay over

12 Months24 Months48 Months36 Months60 Months96 Months120 Months

See Results

Select a Representive Example:

Affordable

Mid - Range

Premium

Amount Of Credit

Amount Of Interest

Total Amount Payable

120 monthly payments of

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

Getting started with the Nest Scheme is simple.

Applicants can call the Nest Scheme’s toll-free number from Monday to Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. If you’d rather not wait on the phone, you can request a callback through their website or send them an email at advicewales@est.org.uk.

All channels are open to discussing questions and steps forward in both English and Welsh.

Even if you’re unsure whether you qualify, it’s still worth reaching out. Nest doesn’t just fund improvements; they also provide free, impartial energy advice and can guide you toward other support if needed.

When you call, an advisor will go through a few questions to check eligibility, such as:

• Do you own your home or rent privately?
• Is anyone in the household receiving benefits?
• What’s the total household income?
• Do you know your property’s EPC rating?
• Does anyone in the household have a long-term health condition that is worsened by the cold?

If you meet the criteria, Nest will arrange a free home assessment by an accredited energy professional.

What Happens During The Assessment?

Once your application is approved, Nest will arrange for a qualified energy assessor to visit your home. Think of this as a complete “health check” for your property.

The assessor will look at:

• Insulation – They’ll check whether your loft, walls, and floors are properly insulated or if heat is escaping through gaps and draughts.
• Heating system – They’ll inspect your boiler, radiators, and controls to see if they’re efficient or outdated. If your boiler is old, inefficient, or unreliable, this could make you a priority for an upgrade.
• Windows and doors – Draughts, single glazing, or poorly fitted frames can all impact warmth and energy costs, so these will be noted.
• Energy efficiency rating – Using your home’s EPC (Energy Performance Certificate) or creating one if you don’t already have it, they’ll assess how efficient your property is overall.

But even if you don’t tick all the boxes, Nest won’t leave you hanging.

How Can The Nest Help If You Don’t Qualify?

The Nest Scheme operators are incredibly knowledgeable about how to reduce energy bills and improve a property’s heating efficiency.

Nest scheme call centre operators will offer helpful advice, such as:

• How to switch to a better energy tariff
• To check if you’re entitled to extra benefits
• And how to apply to other schemes, such as Green Homes Wales.

Who Completes The Work For Nest?

Nest also works closely with local authorities and government partners to deliver support.

When upgrades are needed, they make sure the contractors are correctly accredited, for example:

• TrustMark registered (government-endorsed quality assurance)
• MCS certified (specialists in low-carbon technology)
• Gas Safe registered (a must for anyone working on gas systems)

However, in the unlikely event you haven’t been successful, you can always find heating professionals that offer extremely flexible financial solutions.

Extremely Flexible Financial Heating Solutions

Not everyone will qualify for free upgrades through the Nest Scheme, but that doesn’t mean you’re out of options.

This is where WarmZilla’s finance plans come in handy.

Instead of paying the full price of a new boiler or heating system upfront, you can spread the cost over manageable monthly instalments.

WarmZilla has partnered with trusted lenders, making the process straightforward and allowing you to receive an online quote quickly.

Please note that indicative costs and actual monthly payments may vary by 2p per month.