What Nest is

Nest is the Welsh Government’s fuel poverty scheme. The current programme began on 1 April 2024. The official page says Nest gives free advice and home improvements to help you save energy and money.

As of October 2026, we found no closure or pause notice on the Nest pages. However, the pages carry no date, so check them before you act. Rules and budgets can change without notice.

Start with advice

Therefore, use the Welsh Government’s official Nest pages to make contact. An adviser will assess your eligibility after your first contact. You can ask for a callback, and Welsh-language contact is available.

Do not rely on an unsolicited caller who says they represent Nest. Instead, find the official page yourself and start there. Our guide to solar doorstep and cold-call scams shows how fake callers work.

Who can apply

The official eligibility page sets three conditions, and all of them must apply. Read each one against your own situation, because missing one rules you out.

  • You own your home or rent from a private landlord.
  • You get a qualifying benefit, or your household has a low income.
  • Your home has an EPC of E or below.

Council and housing association tenants are not eligible. A home rated D can still qualify if someone in the household has an eligible health condition. Without that, homes rated D go on a reserve list.

Benefits and income

Nest lists these means-tested benefits: Child Tax Credit with an individual income below 18,660 pounds a year, Council Tax Reduction linked to income, Pension Credit and Universal Credit. Our guide to solar funding if you get benefits compares the lists across the UK.

If you get none of these, you may still qualify on a low household income. The Nest page sets income limits by household type, after you pay your mortgage or rent. Check the page rather than guess, because the figures differ for each household.

Meanwhile, older people may benefit from the Pension Credit route. See our guide to solar panel grants for pensioners for the wider picture.

The health condition route

A lower bar applies when someone in the household has a listed health condition. The Nest page names respiratory disease, circulatory disease, mental health conditions, dementia, and intellectual and developmental disorders. You will need evidence, such as prescriptions or documents from your GP or hospital.

In short, this route lets a home rated D qualify. It does not remove the benefit or income test. For more detail, read our guide on solar help for low-income homes in Wales.

What Nest might offer

Specifically, the official page lists a heat pump, insulation and solar panels among the improvements. It is a package fitted to each home, not a menu you choose from. As a result, you might get insulation but no solar.

Eligibility for support does not mean a solar system will be the recommended measure. The home assessment and the scheme decision control the package. The Nest pages do not name batteries, so ask the adviser.

Solar income after installation

For example, if you later pay for panels yourself, you may sell spare power back to a supplier. The Smart Export Guarantee covers Great Britain, so Wales is included. Our page on the Smart Export Guarantee explains the rules, including the meter and MCS certification checks.

Other routes and next steps

Nest is a Welsh scheme only, so England works differently. England has a different route, which our page on funding routes in England covers. For the full Welsh picture, see our guide to solar funding routes in Wales.

To narrow things down first, try the broad questions in our funding checker guide. Then confirm everything on the official Nest page. Never pay a fee to apply.

FAQ / QUICK ANSWERS

Common questions

Does Nest pay for solar panels in Wales?
The official Nest pages list solar panels among the improvements it can offer. An adviser assesses each home, so solar is only one possible part of a package. Nothing is guaranteed.
What EPC rating do I need for Nest?
As of October 2026, the Nest pages say your home needs an EPC of E or below. A home rated D can qualify if someone in the household has an eligible health condition.
Can I get Nest if I rent?
You can if you rent privately. Council and housing association tenants are not eligible. You also need a qualifying benefit or a low household income.
Is Nest the same as the Warm Homes: Local Grant?
No. The Warm Homes: Local Grant only covers England. Nest is the Welsh Government's own scheme with its own rules.