Can I get solar panels?

The honest answer

What you need for solar panels in the UK.

In practice, you can get solar panels if:

• You own the roof you'd be installing on. Tenants need their landlord's agreement; people in flats with shared roofs usually can't go solar without the freeholder's involvement. If rooftop isn't an option, the plug-in solar route (legal in the UK from 2026) is a portable alternative for renters and balcony flats.
• Your roof can hold the panels. Most pitched and flat UK roofs can; the survey will check the structure.
• Your roof catches enough sun. South, south-east, and south-west roofs catch the most. East and west roofs work too, often very well with a battery. North-facing roofs catch the least, but a south-facing rear extension or flat roof on the same property might still be a good candidate.
• You have the budget. A typical UK installation costs around £4,800–£10,000 depending on system size and whether you add battery storage. Use the savings calculator for an honest payback range.

You don't need:

• A specific system size. Any size from a small terrace to a large detached can be sized to the home.
• Bright sunshine all year. UK solar generates usefully on cloudy days and in winter — just less than in summer.
• An MCS-only installer. MCS membership matters for the Smart Export Guarantee (which lets you sell unused electricity back). It's worth looking for, but it's not the only marker of a good installer.

Honest caveats

Things a roof check won't tell you.

• Listed buildings and conservation areas can need planning permission. A local installer will know.
• Older roofs sometimes need work before panels go on. The survey will flag this.
• Shading (chimneys, neighbouring trees) can cut output more than you'd think on small roofs.

A roof survey is the only way to confirm all of this. Solarable estimates help you decide whether the survey is worth booking.