Key takeaways
- • Plug-in solar in Great Britain is limited to a maximum output of 800W.
- • Savings depend heavily on how much electricity you use during daylight hours.
- • Permission may be required if you rent, lease or live in a managed building.
Often yes, but you need permission and a removable installation. Plug-in solar is one of the few forms of solar a tenant can realistically use, because nothing has to be bolted through the roof.
Start with your tenancy agreement
Most agreements prohibit alterations without written consent. Fixing brackets to a balcony rail, wall or fence counts as an alteration. Ask in writing, describe exactly what you plan to fit, and offer to remove it and make good at the end of the tenancy.
Make the ask easy to say yes to
- Send the product page, weight and mounting method
- Confirm no drilling, or specify exactly what will be drilled
- Offer to have the connection made by a qualified electrician at your cost
- Confirm you will remove the system when you leave
Clamp-on and freestanding options
Railing clamps and ballasted garden frames avoid drilling entirely and are far easier to get approved. A portable folding panel used with a plug-in battery station needs no consent at all in most tenancies, though it saves less.
Who owns the system
You do, if you paid for it. Put that in writing with the landlord so there is no dispute later, and keep the receipt and installation certificate.
Frequently asked questions
Sources
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