Renting

Can I have plug-in solar if I rent?

Often yes, but get your landlord's permission first. Without it, you could be asked to take it down and pay for any damage.

What the official guidance says

Tenants, leaseholders and residents of managed buildings should get permission from their landlord, freeholder or building manager before installing a kit.Energy Saving Trust, DESNZ
Get permission before you buy, not after.Energy Saving Trust
Without permission, you may have to remove the panels and pay for any damage, in the same way as for a satellite dish or an air conditioning unit.Energy Saving Trust
Ask for clear, explicit permission if you'd need to drill into walls or have an outdoor socket fitted.Energy Saving Trust
Landlords and freeholders are encouraged to judge each request on its own merits.GOV.UK
Tenants should have their electrics inspected every five years.Energy Saving Trust

A message you can send your landlord

Fill in the brackets and send it by email or text, so you have a record of the reply.

Hi [landlord's name],

I'd like to use a plug-in solar panel at [address]. It's an 800W kit that plugs straight into an ordinary socket, and it's on the Energy Networks Association's approved register: [make and model].

My plan is to put it [on the balcony / in the garden / against the back wall] using [a free-standing frame / clamps with no drilling]. I'd plug it into [which socket], with no extension lead, and register it online as the rules require.

Are you happy for me to go ahead? I can send the product details and photos of where it would go.

Thanks,
[your name]

Before you ask

Pick a kit that's on the approved list, so you can name it.
Find a socket the cable can reach without an extension lead. Socket rules
Choose a mounting method that doesn't need drilling, if you can. It's an easier thing for a landlord to say yes to.

Common questions

Can my landlord say no to plug-in solar?

Yes. Landlords, freeholders and building managers decide, and the government encourages them to consider each case on its merits. Get permission before you buy.

Do I need to tell my landlord if it doesn't need drilling?

The Energy Saving Trust's advice is to get permission from your landlord before installing, and to get explicit permission if you'd drill or add a socket.