Solar panels & renting: why plug-in kits have created a new challenge for landlords

‘Plug in and play’ solar panel kits are now legal in the UK. Their arrival this summer has presented a new issue for landlords – permission to install.

Firstly, let’s explain where solar panels sit in today’s domestic market. Generating your own energy by harnessing daylight isn’t a new concept. In the UK, our experience of solar energy has been largely confined to roof-mounted panels and battery storage. 

Your options have been to purchase a property with solar panels already installed – something that’s more common when buying brand new – or retrofit at your current home. Buying your own roof-mounted system has involved weighing up the return on investment – something that can be prohibitive if you’re planning to move.

Costs and tenure barriers

The average cost of a 3.5kWp roof-mounted solar panel system is around £7,000, rising to £9,000 for a 5kWp system. You’ll need around 9 years in the South to recoup the investment via reduced electricity bills, rising to around 12 years in Scotland. 

If you are renting, your choices have been even more limited – you’d have to find a rental where the landlord has already invested in renewable energy. If you want to know how limited that choice is, figures published by Sunsave claim only 12.8% of UK homes with solar panels are privately rented.

‘Plug in and play’ solar panel kits open up renewable energy to more households. They have been commonplace across Europe for many years and in August 2026, the UK government sanctioned their legal sale here.

All you need is a plug socket

There are two major upsides to ‘plug in and play’ solar panel kits. Firstly, the panels don’t need any kind of professional trade to install them. The system is as simple as taking the panels out of the box and plugging them into any three-prong plug socket. 

Smaller outlay, better return on investment

Secondly, kits can cost as little as £400. While the amount of energy generated will be less than roof-mounted panels, the upfront outlay is much more affordable. With ‘plug in and play’ panels households can reduce their electricity bills by between £70 and £110 pounds a year. This represents a better return on investment than roof-mounted versions.

With Currys, B&Q, Asda, Screwfix, Wickes and Amazon among retailers selling ‘plug in and play’ kits, it’s easy for tenants to join the solar panel revolution. Landlords do have Government clarification on their use but ministers are already considering a change, so it’s worth keeping up with announcements.

Landlord permission required 

The Government is keen for renters to enjoy the same reduced energy bills as homeowners, and it sees ‘plug in and play’ solar panels as a positive addition to the private rental market. It is, however, explicit in its requirement for tenants to seek a landlord’s permission to install a kit. Installation can involve drilling, as panels are commonly mounted onto balconies, fixed to walls or fences, or are installed on flat, garage and shed roofs.

At present, a landlord can refuse such installation requests – with decisions having weight if: 

• any balcony designated for installation is of timber construction

• there’s work taking place on a building’s exterior

• there’s any risk of jeopardising fire safety

• the mounting area is a boundary wall

• associated cabling would create a safety or trip hazard

• any panels would block an evacuation route or fire exit

• an installation would invalidate an insurance policy

• the superior freeholder prohibits ‘plug in and play’ kits in their contract with leaseholders

Making it harder to say no

The Government is committed to becoming a carbon net zero nation, viewing ‘plug in and play’ solar panel kits as a useful sustainability (and money saving) tool for tenants. As such, ministers are considering implementing a limit on landlord refusals. 

It could follow the pet request model introduced by the Renters’ Rights Act. This states that a landlord must consider all requests to keep a domestic animal and not unreasonably refuse. This could work equally well for ‘plug in and play’ solar panel kits, although the Government would need to clarify a landlord’s reasonable grounds to refuse.

Our full management service ensures all tenant requests are compliantly handled by us. This includes requests to install a ‘plug in and play’ solar panel kit. We can help you weigh up the pros and cons, delivering a decision in a clear and informed way. Contact us if you’d like support.