Nest is a Welsh Government scheme that provides free advice and home improvements. Where a property has no heating or hot water, the Welsh Government’s guidance says the household may be eligible for a repair or replacement of boilers or electric storage heaters. This guide summarises the eligibility rules on GOV.WALES as they stood in September 2026 and covers Wales only. This guide is general information, not a promise that an application will succeed.

What Nest offers

GOV.WALES describes Nest as a Welsh Government scheme that provides free advice and home improvements to help people save energy and money. Its free energy advice covers making sure a household is on the best energy and water tariff, checking benefit entitlement, lowering a carbon footprint and installing low carbon technology. Nest can also confirm whether a household is eligible for a package of free home energy efficiency improvements, such as a heat pump, insulation and solar panels. Where a property is without heating or hot water, the guidance says that a repair or replacement of a boiler or electric storage heater may be available. The scheme is free to eligible households, and the advice service can be used by households that are not sure of their eligibility.

Who can apply: the basic conditions

According to the eligibility page, applicants must own or privately rent their home, so local authority and housing association tenants are outside the scheme. They must either receive a means-tested benefit or live in a low-income household. The home must also have an energy performance certificate (EPC) rating of 54 (E) or less, or 68 (D) or less where someone in the household has an eligible health condition. A home rated 68 (D) or less with no eligible condition is placed on a reserve list.

Owners provide evidence such as a mortgage statement, buildings insurance policy or property deeds. A private tenant provides the landlord’s details so that Nest can request permission for any work. The rules on private rented homes in Wales are explained in the guide to boiler repairs in a rented home in Wales.

The benefit and income tests

The means-tested benefits listed include Pension Credit, Universal Credit, Council Tax Reduction related to income, and Child Tax Credit with an individual income below £18,660 a year. Housing Benefit, income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance, income-related Employment and Support Allowance, Income Support and Working Tax Credit are noted as having moved to Universal Credit in March 2026, with some households having had an extension until July 2026. Evidence such as a benefit award letter or Council Tax statement is needed.

A household without a qualifying benefit can qualify on income. The thresholds depend on the age and number of people in the household and are based on total household income after mortgage or rent payments, with disability-related payments and benefits not counted. Examples in the guidance are £15,521 a year for a single adult householder with no children, £23,166 for a couple with no children and £15,521 for a single pensioner. Households not covered by the tables are asked to phone the advice line.

EPC rating and health conditions

The EPC condition is set out above. The eligible health conditions listed by Nest include respiratory disease, circulatory disease, mental health conditions, dementia and intellectual and developmental disorders. Evidence is required, for example a prescription medication package, a treatment plan or a GP or hospital appointment or referral letter. Nest says the household’s EPC rating can be checked on GOV.UK, or Nest can help. How a new boiler affects an EPC is covered in the guide to boiler installation and EPC ratings.

How to apply

The guidance says to call Nest free on 0808 808 2244, Monday to Friday from 9am to 6pm, or to request a callback. A household with difficulty communicating by telephone can email the advice team at the address given on the GOV.WALES page. Calls and emails are welcome in Welsh. If the household is eligible, Nest arranges for an assessor to visit and gather more information about the home, which is used to develop a tailored package of support. A household that does not think it is eligible, or is unsure, can still contact Nest for energy efficiency advice, help with other grants and tariffs and a check of benefit entitlement.

Other schemes

Other funding routes for boilers, including ECO4 and the Great British Insulation Scheme, are compared in the guide to government boiler grants. The Nest guidance page also points to the Green Homes Wales scheme as an outside source of support.

FAQs

Can a council or housing association tenant apply to Nest?

No. The eligibility page says the applicant must own or privately rent the home, and it excludes local authority and housing association homes.

Does Nest replace a boiler in any home?

No. GOV.WALES says a repair or replacement of boilers or electric storage heaters may be available where a property is without heating or hot water, subject to the eligibility conditions.

How do I apply?

Call Nest on 0808 808 2244 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 6pm) or request a callback through GOV.WALES.

The bottom line

Nest is a Welsh Government scheme under which a home without heating or hot water may be eligible for a boiler or electric storage heater repair or replacement. The applicant must own or privately rent the home, receive a qualifying benefit or be on a low income, and the home must meet the EPC condition. Applications are made by phone or callback. This is general information, not regulated advice on any specific installation.

Sources

This guide draws on the following primary sources, current as of 25 September 2026:

• GOV.WALES, “Get help with energy efficiency in your home from Nest”
• GOV.WALES, “Get free home energy efficiency improvements from Nest: Overview”
• GOV.WALES, “Get free home energy efficiency improvements from Nest: Eligibility”
• GOV.WALES, “Get free home energy efficiency improvements from Nest: Apply”

Related guides

Best Boiler Deals is an independent guide. We may earn a fee from some links; this never affects what we write. This article is general information, not regulated advice on any specific installation — always confirm the details with a Gas Safe registered engineer.