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.
If you rent, or own a leasehold flat, you almost certainly need consent before mounting anything on a balcony, wall or communal structure.
Leaseholders
The balcony, external walls and railings are usually retained by the freeholder even when the flat is yours. Your lease will contain clauses on alterations and on attaching items to the exterior. Written consent from the freeholder or managing agent is the safe route, and some will ask for a small fee or a licence to alter.
Tenants
Check the alterations clause in the tenancy agreement. Landlords are more likely to agree to clamp-on or freestanding kits that use the manufacturer-approved connection method and come with a commitment to remove.
What to include in the request
- Photographs of the intended location
- Product weight, dimensions and mounting method
- Confirmation the product meets the current interim product specification and how it will be connected
- Wind loading and fixing details for anything at height
- Undertaking to remove and make good
If consent is refused
Freestanding garden or patio frames on land demised to you are usually outside the scope of an alterations clause. Confirm before assuming.
Having the product details ready makes a request easier; our kit comparison lists weight, dimensions and mounting options for each recorded system.
Frequently asked questions
Sources
Fact-check status: reviewed. Read our editorial policy. General information only — not electrical, legal or financial advice.