Plug-in solar: the checklist before you buy
Ten things to sort out first, so the kit you buy is legal, safe and allowed where you live.
The checklist
- Check you're in England, Scotland or Wales. Plug-in solar isn't currently permitted in Northern Ireland.Energy Saving Trust
- Get permission from your landlord, freeholder or building manager if you need it, before you buy.Energy Saving Trust
- Check whether you need planning permission or listed building consent.Energy Saving Trust, Planning Portal
- Find an unshaded spot, ideally facing south. East or west works too.Energy Saving Trust
- Find a socket the cable reaches directly, on a circuit with no lights or fixed appliances.Energy Saving Trust
- Check your fuse box has RCD, RCBO or MCB breakers, not old rewireable fuses.Energy Saving Trust
- Choose a kit marked compliant on the ENA register.Energy Saving Trust, DESNZ
- Ask your home insurer how it affects your cover, including outdoor installations.Energy Saving Trust
- Check the warranty and what happens with repairs or theft.Energy Saving Trust
- After you plug it in, register it at myplugin.solar. It's a legal requirement.Energy Saving Trust
When it eventually wears out
- Panels count as electrical waste and need specialist recycling: the maker's take-back scheme, PV CYCLE, or a dedicated collector.Energy Saving Trust
- Never try to repair the panels or inverter yourself. Report faults to the maker.Energy Saving Trust
Common questions
Do I need to tell my insurer about plug-in solar?
The Energy Saving Trust advises contacting your buildings and contents insurer to see how it affects your policy and whether outdoor installations are covered.
More guides
Planning permission
When you need it, and the new rules for houses in England.
Renting
Asking your landlord, with a message you can copy.
Flats and balconies
Leases, fire safety, cladding and timber balconies.
Sockets and wiring
Which socket, why no extension leads, and the fuse box check.
Which way to face it
South, east, west or upright: what each makes.
Does it work in winter?
Month by month, what a kit makes in the UK.
Sources
- Energy Saving Trust: plug-in solar panel checklist
- Planning Portal: changes to permitted development rules for domestic solar installations (28 August 2026)
- DESNZ: Plug-in solar regulatory framework, government response (July 2026)
Checked 13 October 2026. Spotted something out of date? Email hello@socketpanel.co.uk. How we check