Check permissions before buying
Tenants, leaseholders and people in managed buildings may need landlord, freeholder, building manager or planning permission before installing plug-in solar panels.
The current socket-connected route applies in Great Britain, not Northern Ireland. A seller offering delivery does not change the connection rules.
- Landlord, freeholder or building manager permission checked
- Planning, listed building or conservation limits considered
- Insurance impact checked before outdoor equipment is fitted
Check electrical and registration route
The Energy Saving Trust says plug-in panels should go directly into a suitable socket, without extension leads, adaptors or altered plugs. Outdoor sockets need the right rating and may need a qualified electrician.
Register the device after installation and before using it. Have the exact make and model ready for the registration portal.
- One plug-in solar device per property
- Suitable circuit and outdoor socket checks completed
- Make and model ready for plug-in solar registration
Common questions
Is the lowest quote enough if the installer seems good?
No. A plug-in solar offer also needs exact device evidence, permission checks and socket-route clarity.
Should the exact model be checked before purchase?
Yes. The ENA register and the seller model should match before the device is treated as a current plug-in solar pick.
Before you buy
Guidance checked 5 September 2026. Check the latest advice and your exact product before ordering; a comparison is not an electrical or structural survey.
Plug-in kits
Keep the exact device visible beside the price.
Open guideBattery route
Keep storage claims outside the socket-only shortlist.
Open guide