What if my solar installer goes bust?

The UK solar industry has been through several boom-bust cycles. Plenty of installers from the 2010s no longer exist, leaving 25-year warranties they can't honour. The honest question to ask before any installation is: if this company isn't around in 10 years, what's actually protected? This guide walks through the real answer.

Three different things can break

When people say "the installer went bust" they usually mean a workmanship issue surfaces and they can't get hold of the company. But several things can independently break:

• The panels themselves. Panel manufacturers issue 25-year performance warranties. Those are with the manufacturer, not the installer — they survive an installer going bust.
• The inverter. Same: manufacturer warranty (10–12 years for most string inverters, 25 for premium microinverters). Survives installer going bust.
• The workmanship — leaks, loose connections, mounting failures. This is the one most exposed if the installer is gone. The "installation guarantee" they promised at sale time is the company's own commitment, not the manufacturer's.
• Post-install services like monitoring portal access or annual checks. Sometimes built into the contract; usually evaporates if the company does.

The three layers of protection

Layer 1: Manufacturer warranties

The panels and inverter come with their own warranties direct from the manufacturer. A bust installer doesn't affect these.

The catch: claiming on a manufacturer warranty usually requires:

• Proof of installation date and configuration (your handover pack documents this)
• The unit's serial number (on the handover pack and inverter monitoring app)
• A qualified installer to remove and ship the failed unit, often at your cost

If your original installer is gone, any MCS-certified installer can do the diagnosis and replacement work. You'll pay labour but the part itself is usually free under warranty.

Layer 2: Insurance-backed workmanship warranty (RECC or HIES)

This is the layer that specifically covers an installer going bust. If the installer is a member of RECC or HIES, they're required to carry an insurance-backed warranty — meaning a third-party insurer underwrites the workmanship guarantee.

If the installer ceases trading and a workmanship issue arises (a leak, a loose connection, a failed mount), you claim against the insurer instead of the installer. The insurer arranges a different installer to fix the issue.

Typical coverage: 6–10 years from installation date. Critically — this only works if your installer was a RECC or HIES member at the time of install.

Layer 3: MCS via NICEIC

For electrical safety issues specifically, the MCS register lets you find another MCS-certified installer who can take over an existing install. The new installer can re-certify your system if needed (e.g. for a property sale or a SEG re-registration). They charge for their time but the bureaucratic continuity is there.

What is NOT protected

A few things to set expectations:

• Promises that aren't in writing. A salesperson saying "we'll come out for free in year 5" — if it's not in the contract, the insurer won't honour it.
• "Lifetime monitoring" portals. If the brand goes (RIP a few in the 2010s), the portal goes. Your inverter still works; the data layer doesn't.
• Custom kit nobody else can service. A few smaller manufacturers' inverters used proprietary apps and parts. If that manufacturer goes bust and your installer goes bust, finding spares and software updates is harder.

What to check before signing

In rough priority order:

1. Companies House check on the installer. Have they been trading more than 5 years? Are accounts up to date? Are there active winding-up petitions? Free check at find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk.
2. MCS certification. Look up the certificate number on the MCS public register.
3. RECC or HIES membership. Confirms an insurance-backed warranty applies.
4. Insurance-backed warranty paperwork. Ask for it specifically. The contract should state the insurer name and coverage period.
5. Stick to mainstream kit. A LongiSolar, REC, or SunPower panel from a current Tier-1 manufacturer carries less long-tail risk than a brand you've never heard of. Same for inverters — Solis, GivEnergy, SolarEdge, Enphase are all major UK-supported brands in 2026.

What to keep, in case the worst happens

After installation, keep these documents — paper and digital copies:

• The MCS certificate
• Electrical certificate (Part P / NICEIC)
• DNO confirmation
• Panel and inverter serial numbers + warranty registrations
• The installer's contract and final invoice
• Insurance-backed warranty document (typically a separate certificate from the insurer, not just a paragraph in the contract)
• Photos of the install — both visible (panels on roof) and hidden (any wiring you can see in the loft, the inverter location)

If the installer disappears in year 6, this pack is what lets a different installer take over with confidence.

What to do if your installer has already gone bust

Three steps in order:

1. Find the original install paperwork. The pack above. If you don't have it, the MCS register can confirm the installation date and which panels were used.
2. Identify the issue. Many "the installer went bust and now my system isn't working" cases turn out to be a tripped isolator, a firmware update needed, or a loose AC connection — small things any solar-trained electrician can fix.
3. Find a replacement installer. The Solarable directory lists installers covering your postcode. Most reputable installers will quote for taking over an orphaned system at hourly rates plus parts.

Related

• MCS, RECC, HIES decoded
• Eight questions to ask before signing a solar quote
• Find listed installers covering your postcode
• How long does a UK solar installation actually take?