The short version
Wales has one heat pump route of its own: the Welsh Government’s Nest scheme, which may help eligible lower income households and some households on certain benefits with home energy improvements, sometimes including heating. Most homeowners in Wales use the same UK grant as England instead, covered below. We describe Nest only in general terms, because eligibility and what it covers are set by the scheme and change over time.
What else is different in Wales is the housing and the planning rules. Many Welsh homes are older terraces, stone cottages or rural houses on oil, and planning is set by the Welsh Government.
Nest, in general terms
Nest is the Welsh Government’s scheme for making homes warmer and cheaper to heat for households that need help most. Depending on your income, benefits, home and the scheme rules at the time, it may offer free advice and, for those who qualify, funded improvements. These can sometimes include a new heating system or insulation.
We make no promises about what Nest will offer you. The only way to know is to contact the scheme, check eligibility and let them assess your home. Search for the Welsh Government’s Nest scheme to find its current contact details. Do not book paid work on the assumption that Nest will cover it.
If you might qualify for Nest, contact them before you sign a grant-funded quote. The two routes are not normally combined for the same heat pump, so it pays to know which one fits you first.
Comparing the two routes
| Compare | Nest | Boiler Upgrade Scheme |
|---|---|---|
| Who runs it | Welsh Government | UK Government, administered by Ofgem |
| Who it is for | Eligible lower income households | Property owners replacing fossil fuel heating |
| What it offers | Home energy improvements decided case by case | £7,500 off an air source or ground source heat pump |
| Who applies | You, by contacting Nest | Your MCS-certified installer |
| Means tested | Yes, eligibility depends on circumstances | No |
The UK grant in Wales
The Boiler Upgrade Scheme works in Wales exactly as it does in England: £7,500 off an air source or ground source heat pump as of October 2026, claimed by your MCS-certified installer, with a valid EPC needed and no insulation requirement. Check the current rules on gov.uk before you commit.
Welsh homes and heat pumps
Wales has a lot of older housing, from valley terraces to stone cottages and farmhouses. Many rural homes are off the gas grid and heated by oil or LPG, which often makes them good candidates for a heat pump.
Valley and town terraces
Narrow terraces can work well with a heat pump if there is space for the outdoor unit at the back and room inside for a cylinder. Shared walls help, since less heat is lost through them. Read heat pumps in terraced houses and flats.
Stone cottages and farmhouses
Solid stone walls lose heat faster, so sizing and radiators matter more. Read are heat pumps right for older houses before getting quotes.
Homes on oil
If you are replacing an oil boiler, see oil boiler to heat pump for what happens to the tank and how the switch works.
Noise and planning
Many heat pump installs at houses count as permitted development, but conditions apply, and listed buildings and conservation areas are treated differently. Planning rules in Wales are set by the Welsh Government and may differ in detail from England. Ask your installer to confirm before you sign, and read heat pump noise and planning rules.
Questions to ask before you sign
Whichever route you use, put these to each installer and compare the answers:
- What size heat pump do you recommend, and can I see the heat loss calculation behind it?
- Which radiators need changing, and what size will the new ones be?
- Where will the outdoor unit and hot water cylinder go?
- What flow temperature is the system designed for? Flow temperature is the temperature of the water sent to the radiators, and lower usually means cheaper running.
- Is the £7,500 grant shown as a separate line, and what do I pay if the application is delayed?
- What warranty comes with the heat pump and with the installation work?
If an answer is vague or not in writing, get another quote.
Checking your installer
Only MCS-certified installers can claim the Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant. Check any installer on the MCS register. City Boiler connects you with independent MCS-certified installers and checks certification before they quote.
Grant schemes change. Check the current rules for both the Boiler Upgrade Scheme and Nest before you commit.
Common questions
What is Nest?
Nest is the Welsh Government's home energy efficiency scheme for eligible lower income households and some households on certain benefits. Depending on the home and the rules at the time, it may fund energy improvements, sometimes including heating. Eligibility is assessed case by case, so check directly with Nest.
Can I use Nest and the Boiler Upgrade Scheme together?
Usually you would use one route or the other for the same heat pump. The rules on combining funding can change, so ask the scheme and your installer before you commit.
Does the Boiler Upgrade Scheme apply in Wales?
Yes. The Boiler Upgrade Scheme covers England and Wales, giving £7,500 off an air source or ground source heat pump as of October 2026. Your MCS-certified installer applies for it and deducts it from your bill.
Do I need an EPC in Wales?
Yes, for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme you need a valid Energy Performance Certificate, just as in England. There is no insulation requirement as of October 2026.