Choosing a solar installer

Start with two checks, not one

Most UK homeowners hear about two kinds of check when they shop for solar: MCS certification and a consumer code such as RECC or HIES. Because they do different jobs, look for both.

MCS is the Microgeneration Certification Scheme. It sets the technical standard for how a system is designed, installed and handed over. The current solar standard is MIS 3002, issue 6.0, dated 18 March 2026. It covers systems up to 50kWp, which is far bigger than any home needs. However, the same rules apply to a small domestic job.

RECC is the Renewable Energy Consumer Code. It covers how a firm sells to you. That includes contracts, deposits, cancellation and complaints. RECC also says its members must be certified by MCS.

Ask every firm for both registration numbers. Then check them yourself on the MCS and RECC websites, since a logo in a brochure proves nothing. Our plain-English guide to MCS certification explains what the certificate does and does not tell you.

Why MCS matters for your money

An MCS certificate is not just a badge. Ofgem’s Smart Export Guarantee guidance says applicants must show that the installation and installer are suitably certified. That is usually an MCS certificate. Ofgem also recognises equivalent schemes, so speak to your supplier about what it accepts. While most people use MCS, the choice is yours.

The standard also protects you at the buying stage. Before you sign, the installer must give you a written performance estimate for your own roof. It must come with a note saying the figure is guidance for the first year only. It is not a guarantee. The installer must also give you datasheets for the panels and inverter, plus a drawing of the panel layout.

At handover you should get a signed declaration, a list of the main parts, the estimate again, and a suggested date for the first inspection. The installer must register the job on the MCS database within 10 working days. Your certificate then comes to you, because it belongs in the handover pack.

What RECC adds

RECC members follow a code on how they sell. Its consumer leaflet gives some clear rules of thumb:

• Get at least three quotes.
• Never pay more than 25% of the contract price up front, and check that deposit is insured.
• Never sign if you feel pressured.
• Get the performance estimate in writing before you sign.

The code also bans some sales tricks. A member should not offer a discount for signing on the day. It should not hold back price details until the end of the visit. It should not claim that stock is running short.

If something goes wrong, you complain to the firm first. If that fails, RECC offers mediation and an independent arbitration service. Members must take part, which gives you a route even when the firm is slow.

Protection if the firm fails

Solar jobs take weeks, and firms can stop trading in that time. Some fail years later. Two protections cover that risk.

First, MCS says an insurance-backed guarantee is mandatory for domestic installs. It must cover workmanship for at least two years. It must pass to the next owner if you sell. It can run for up to 10 years, although never longer than the guarantee the installer gives.

Second, RECC members must protect the money you pay in advance. They must also give you an insurance-backed workmanship warranty when the job is done. Ask who the insurer is. Then ask for the policy certificate, because a policy only counts once it has been issued to you.

A guarantee covers the installer’s work. Product warranties on panels and inverters, however, come from the makers. Our guide to solar panel maintenance and lifespan shows how the two fit together.

Your cancellation rights

For contracts signed at home, or by phone or online, you normally have 14 days to cancel. The Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013 set this rule. For a service, the 14 days start on the day you enter the contract, so count from signing.

A trader cannot start work inside that window unless you ask. For a home sale, your request must be on a durable medium, such as an email or letter. If you cancel after work has started, you may still owe the cost of what was done.

RECC’s leaflet says the same in plain words. If you sign at your own pace after a sales visit, you still get 14 days. If you take finance through the firm, you also have 14 days from receiving the finance papers to cancel that agreement.

Paying by credit card

Paying part of the price by credit card can add a second layer of protection. Specifically, under section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act 1974, the card provider can share liability with the seller. This covers misrepresentation and breach of contract.

There is a limit. The cash price of a single item must be over £100 and not more than £30,000. Ask your card provider how it treats a solar install that includes labour, since you should not assume the rule will apply.

Compare the same thing

Two quotes can look far apart and still be fair, because the gap often comes from what is left out. Before you compare totals, line up these points:

• System size in kWp and the number of panels.
• Panel and inverter make and model.
• Whether a battery is included, and its usable size.
• Scaffolding, roof work and electrical work.
• Monitoring app and any grid paperwork.
• Workmanship guarantee, plus product warranties.
• The payment plan, from deposit to final payment.

Our post on questions to ask a solar installer turns this into a checklist you can take to each visit. For the money side, read how much solar panels cost and the solar panel costs and savings hub. If a battery is on the quote, see solar battery cost and sizing so you can judge that line separately.

Check the roof and the paperwork

A good installer will look at the roof before quoting. The MCS standard says that if the roof is under warranty, the installer should consult the roof warranty provider. If the install may void that warranty, they must tell you in writing and get your clear agreement. A line in their standard terms is not enough.

Good firms also handle the red tape. The MCS standard says the installer must notify your local network operator under the G98 or G99 process. In England, electrical work needs to be certified. A firm in a competent person scheme can self-certify, so you should not need to pay a separate building control fee.

Planning is a separate question, although most homes are covered by permitted development. See whether solar panels need planning permission and our guide to planning your installation. Your roof layout also shapes the design, which is covered in roof and property suitability.

Signs to slow down

The Competition and Markets Authority guidance on unfair commercial practices lists pressure tactics that are banned. They include ignoring a request to leave your home, and making persistent unwanted calls. Those are extreme cases, yet milder versions are more common.

Slow down if you hear any of these:

• A price that expires tonight.
• A “guaranteed” saving with no written estimate.
• A vague deposit, or one above 25%.
• Finance that hides the total you will repay.
• A refusal to put claims in writing.

None of these proves a firm is dishonest. Each one is still a reason to pause and ask for the detail by email, because a good firm will not mind.

Funding and “free” offers

Be careful with offers of free panels. Some are real schemes with strict rules. Others are leases or finance deals, so the firm may still own the roof equipment. Read our guide to solar panel grants and funding and the post on free solar panel schemes before you sign.

A short routine you can follow

1. Get three quotes from MCS-certified firms that belong to a consumer code such as RECC or HIES.
2. Check each number on the official site.
3. Ask for the performance estimate and datasheets in writing.
4. Line up the quotes on the same scope.
5. Confirm the deposit, and who insures it.
6. Take your time. Use the cooling-off period if you need it.

Prices, schemes and standards change. We checked the sources above in October 2026. Follow the links to confirm the current position before you sign.