What the checker is

The checker sits on our home page and runs in your browser. It asks four broad questions and then shows where to look next. It is a signpost, not a decision.

We built it because funding is devolved. England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland each run different routes, so the first job is to send you to the right one. The checker does not reserve funding, and it does not speak for any scheme.

What each question means

Each question matches a condition that official schemes use. We keep the answers broad so you never type private details. The questions are:

  • Nation. England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have separate schemes.
  • Tenure. Whether you own your home or rent from a private or social landlord.
  • EPC band. The energy rating of your home, from A to G.
  • Household support. A broad sign of income or benefits.

Nation matters most, because it decides which public body you deal with. England’s Warm Homes: Local Grant covers England only. Wales has Nest, and Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own rules.

Why tenure and EPC matter

Tenure matters because most grants cover privately owned or privately rented homes. Social housing is mostly outside the English grant. Tenants also need a landlord’s agreement for work on the property.

Your EPC band matters because schemes set a ceiling. For example, England’s grant asks for a rating of D to G, and Nest asks for E or below. Read our guide to how your EPC rating affects solar funding to find yours.

Income and benefits

The last question asks only for a broad sign of income or benefits. Official schemes then test this in their own way. In England, GOV.UK says household income must usually be 36,000 pounds a year or less, with other routes by postcode or benefit.

Because the lists differ by nation, see our guide to solar funding if you get benefits. Pension Credit and Universal Credit appear on the English, Welsh and Scottish lists.

Where the checker sends you

The result is a link to the page that matters, never a promise. Here is what you may see for each nation, as of October 2026.

  • England: the Warm Homes: Local Grant application page on GOV.UK.
  • Wales: the Nest scheme on the Welsh Government site.
  • Scotland: Home Energy Scotland, which stopped funding solar panels for new applicants in June 2024.
  • Northern Ireland: nidirect, which says there is no financial support for homeowners to generate their own electricity.

For the full picture in each nation, see our guides to funding routes in England, solar funding in Scotland, solar funding routes in Wales and funding routes in Northern Ireland.

What the checker cannot do

The checker cannot see your home, your EPC, your evidence or a council’s budget. It cannot say a scheme is open for your area today. As a result, meeting every headline condition still guarantees nothing.

It also does not recommend an installer, a loan or a product. It does not replace advice from the scheme body or a charity adviser. Nobody can promise you free panels, so treat any such promise as a warning sign.

Privacy and the quote step

The checker keeps no name, address or contact details. Requesting installer quotes is a separate step on a different page, and it is optional. If you choose it, our get quotes page explains who receives your details.

Whichever route you use, the official body has the final say. Before sharing anything, read our guide to questions to ask before you consent.

FAQ / QUICK ANSWERS

Common questions

Does the solar funding checker tell me if I qualify?
No. It points you to the official page for your nation, where the real rules sit. Only the scheme administrator or your council can confirm eligibility.
Does the checker store my details?
No. It asks only broad questions and keeps no name, address or contact details. Requesting installer quotes is a separate, optional form.
Why does the checker not ask for my address?
A broad answer is enough to find the right official page. Official applications ask for evidence through their own process, so you share detail only with the body that decides.
What if the checker shows no route for me?
That can be a true answer. For example, Home Energy Scotland's Grant and Loan stopped funding solar PV and batteries for new applicants in June 2024. Check the official page and consider asking your council or a local advice service.