Solar panels for renters and landlords

Why renting changes the rules

Solar panels attach to the roof, and the roof belongs to your landlord. Because of that, a tenant cannot simply order a system. You need written permission first, and most funding routes ask for it too.

This guide covers both sides. Tenants will see what may be open to them, while landlords will see what the rules expect. We are an independent information site, and the official body for each scheme decides who qualifies.

If you rent in England

The Warm Homes: Local Grant can cover privately rented homes. GOV.UK says the home must be privately owned, either by you or your landlord, with an EPC of D, E, F or G. If you do not know your EPC, you can find it out when you apply.

The grant also depends on income, benefits or your postcode area. Your council decides whether it has funding, and it organises any work it agrees with you. Policy guidance says tenants are not expected to contribute, although funding is never guaranteed. Read the Warm Homes: Local Grant page for the main steps, and see solar funding routes in England for the wider picture.

However, your landlord has a role. GOV.UK says that if you have a landlord, they may need to pay for some of the improvements. Ask them early, because the work changes their building.

What landlords may have to pay

Under the English grant, a private landlord may get one home fully funded. Policy guidance says a 50% cost contribution applies for any further homes upgraded after the first. Social housing landlords must pay 50% as well.

So, if you let several homes, plan for that cost. Owner-occupiers do not need to contribute under the same scheme. Still, funding depends on the council, so no landlord can count on a place.

Also note that ECO4 help for a rented home needs the landlord’s consent. ECO4 runs until 31 December 2026, and suppliers choose what they fund. Read our guide to ECO4 and solar panels before you assume anything, since the rules are changing.

Energy standards for rented homes

Landlords in England and Wales already face a minimum energy standard. GOV.UK guidance says it applies to homes with an EPC rating of F or G on certain tenancy types. Landlords must take appropriate steps to comply, although they do not need to spend more than £3,500 including VAT.

The Warm Homes Plan says the government plans to go further. It proposes that landlords upgrade homes to EPC band C by October 2030, with a spending cap of £10,000, unless they have an exemption. As of October 2026 these are proposals, not rules. Therefore, check GOV.UK for updates.

Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland

Funding is devolved, so the rules differ in each nation. As of October 2026, the official pages show the following for private tenants.

• Wales: Nest covers owner-occupiers and private tenants, not council or housing association tenants. You must meet its benefit or income tests, and your home needs a low EPC rating.
• Scotland: Warmer Homes Scotland covers people who own their home or rent from a private landlord, if they meet its rules. We could not confirm whether it includes solar, so ask Home Energy Scotland.
• Northern Ireland: the Affordable Warmth Scheme covers private tenants under an income limit. It does not list solar among its measures, and private landlords must pay 50%.

For Welsh readers, see the Nest scheme in Wales and solar funding routes in Wales. Every scheme has its own limits, because each government sets its own rules. Read the official page before you apply.

Earning from exported power

If a system is fitted, the Smart Export Guarantee may pay for the power you send to the grid. The rules cover Great Britain only. You need an MCS certified installation and a meter that records exports.

Our explainer on the Smart Export Guarantee sets out the details. In a rented home, ask who holds the export contract before work starts, since the tenant and landlord could each expect the income. Put the answer in writing.

Practical steps for tenants

Take it one step at a time. Each of these steps costs nothing, yet it protects you.

• Ask your landlord in writing, and keep their reply.
• Find your EPC on the GOV.UK service for England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
• Check the official scheme page before you share personal details.
• Never pay a deposit to a caller who says the panels are free.

Beware of pressure, because sellers target tenants too. Our guide on free solar panels shows what public money really covers, and our piece on solar doorstep and cold-call scams shows common tricks. Older tenants may also want to read about solar panel grants for pensioners.

Practical steps for landlords

Landlords should check who does the work, because the building stays theirs long after the installers leave. Our steps on how to check an MCS certified installer apply to you as well. Ask for the contract in writing, and keep every certificate with your property records.

Finally, tell your tenants what is happening and when. Disruption is easier to accept while people know the plan. If you want to compare installer quotes, our optional quote request page is one way to start.