Solar Panel Installation Checklist UK: Before & After Fitting
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Quick answer: what should you check when installing solar panels?
Before agreeing to a solar installation, check your roof condition, shading, electricity use, proposed system size, expected annual generation, panel and inverter models, warranties, total price and whether scaffolding and electrical work are included. Confirm the installer’s relevant certification and ask whether planning permission or a DNO application is required.
Before installation day, make sure the final design matches the quotation and that access to the loft, consumer unit, meter and proposed inverter or battery location is clear. After commissioning, check the monitoring app works and obtain your handover documents, including the MCS certificate where applicable, warranties, electrical and commissioning records, system information and DNO documentation. MCS publishes a dedicated handover checklist covering these records.
Solar Panel Installation Checklist: What UK Homeowners Should Check Before, During and After Fitting
A solar installation can look simple from the ground: scaffolding goes up, panels go on the roof and the system starts generating. For the homeowner, however, the important checks begin before installation day and continue after the installer leaves.
This solar panel installation checklist is for UK homeowners who want to verify the survey, quotation, system design, grid-connection paperwork, installation and handover without trying to do the installer’s technical job. By the end, you should know what to confirm at each stage, which questions to ask and which documents to keep.
Both Energy Saving Trust’s rooftop solar installation guidance and RECC’s consumer advice recommend comparing multiple quotations and checking installer credentials before committing.
Ready to compare options? Use Get Free Quote to compare suitable solar installation quotations for your property.
Solar panel installation checklist at a glance
| Stage | What to check | What you should have |
|---|---|---|
| Before signing | Roof suitability, system size, forecast output, equipment, warranties, price and installer credentials | Written quotation and proposed design |
| Before installation | Final layout, planning position, DNO route, access, scaffolding and electrical scope | Confirmed installation plan |
| During installation | Equipment matches quote and agreed locations | Any agreed changes recorded |
| Handover | Testing, monitoring, shutdown guidance, warranties, certificates and DNO paperwork | Complete handover pack |
| After installation | Export tariff eligibility, monitoring and document storage | Working system and retained records |
1. Before you accept a solar quote
Start with your electricity use. Gather around 12 months of bills if possible and tell the installer about likely changes, such as an EV, heat pump or battery. A system should reflect the property and your expected use, not simply the maximum number of panels that fit.
Compare the proposed annual generation in kWh, not just the array size in kWp. Ask what assumptions were made about roof direction, pitch and shading. If two installers predict very different output, ask why.
The quotation should identify the panel model, inverter, panel count, total system size, monitoring equipment, mounting system and battery specification if included. It should also make clear whether scaffolding, electrical upgrades, bird protection, DNO work and commissioning are included.
For more detail on equipment, see Get Free Quote’s guide to the best solar panels in the UK.
Before paying a deposit, verify the installer’s certification for solar PV and any consumer-code membership claimed. RECC recommends obtaining at least three quotes, verifying MCS certification and understanding the contract before paying. Its current consumer guidance also advises against signing because of sales pressure or a time-limited discount.
2. What to check at the solar survey
A proper survey should confirm whether the desktop design is realistic. The surveyor may need to inspect the roof covering, structure or loft, shading, cable route, consumer unit, meter and suitable locations for the inverter and battery.
Ask what could change the price or design. Examples include roof repairs, a consumer-unit upgrade, long cable runs, unusual scaffolding, multiple roof faces or extra battery work.
Do not rely only on a sales illustration. Ask for the final proposed layout and performance estimate after the survey. If the design changes materially, request the revised specification and price in writing before work starts.
Get Free Quote’s solar panel installation survey guide can be used alongside this checklist for more detail.
Check the planning position
Planning rules vary across the UK and can depend on the property and location. In England, many domestic rooftop solar installations can fall within permitted development when the relevant conditions are met. Listed buildings, designated areas and unusual installations can require additional checks. GOV.UK guidance on permitted development explains the framework, while the legislation sets specific restrictions for domestic solar equipment.
Ask the installer to state whether planning permission or another consent is needed. If the property is listed, leasehold or subject to restrictions, confirm the position before installation.
3. Checks before installation day
Before scaffolding arrives, confirm that the system being fitted is the system you agreed to buy.
Check the exact panel and inverter models, panel count, battery model and usable capacity if applicable, final roof layout and equipment locations. If substitutions are proposed, ask for the replacement specification and warranty before accepting the change.
Also ask which DNO connection route applies. In Great Britain, compliant generation up to 16A per phase generally follows G98. Installations above that level, or systems that do not meet G98 requirements, use G99 processes. Solar-plus-battery installations can make the assessment more complicated, so the installer should explain which route applies to the actual design. Current G99 connection guidance from National Grid confirms that G99 applies above 16A, equivalent to 3.68kW per phase, or when the current G98 requirements are not met.
Clear access to the loft, consumer unit, meter, inverter position and battery area. Move vehicles if the scaffold or delivery team needs the driveway, and agree how gates, pets and alarms will be managed.
4. What to check during installation
You do not need to supervise technical work from a ladder. Focus on whether the installation matches the agreed design and whether unexpected changes are explained.
Confirm the panel count and visible equipment match the quotation. If the inverter or battery is moved, ask why and consider ventilation, weather exposure, service access and manufacturer requirements. Ask the team to explain the cable route before it is permanently fixed if appearance matters.
If roof tiles or slates are damaged, raise it before the team leaves. Likewise, ask about unexpected electrical or roof work before agreeing to extra charges.
The job should finish with testing and commissioning, not simply switching the inverter on. Get Free Quote’s solar panel installation process guide explains the wider sequence.
5. Commissioning and handover: do not skip the paperwork
Handover is easy to overlook. The MCS solar PV installation handover checklist covers system information, manuals, test and commissioning data, operation and maintenance information, warranty details and the MCS certificate.
Make sure you know how to view generation, identify a fault and safely shut down the system. Log into the monitoring app while the installer is available so account or connectivity problems can be fixed.
| Handover item | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| MCS certificate or equivalent evidence, where applicable | Commonly needed to evidence an eligible installation for export tariffs |
| DNO connection or commissioning documentation | Records the grid-connection process |
| Electrical and commissioning records | Evidence of testing and set-up |
| System schematic and equipment details | Helps future electricians, roofers and service engineers |
| Product and workmanship warranties | Explains cover and claim routes |
| Operation, maintenance and shutdown instructions | Helps you use and isolate the system safely |
| Monitoring access | Lets you check generation and spot faults |
For more detail on testing and paperwork, see Get Free Quote’s solar PV commissioning process guide.
6. What to do after installation
Store the handover pack somewhere you can find it years later and keep digital copies. These records can matter when changing export suppliers, arranging repairs, making a warranty claim or selling the property.
If you want payment for exported electricity in Great Britain, check the Smart Export Guarantee. Ofgem’s guidance for SEG generators explains that eligible generators apply to a SEG licensee and receive payment for qualifying measured exports under that supplier’s terms. GOV.UK says applicants need a meter capable of recording export and evidence that the installation meets the scheme’s certification requirements.
Do not assume every export-tariff step is automatic. Ask who is responsible for any export MPAN, DNO confirmation and documents required by your chosen supplier.
Finally, compare actual generation with the installer’s forecast over sensible periods rather than judging performance from one cloudy week.
7. Solar installation red flags that need clarification
Pause and ask questions if the final design is materially different from the quote, the installer cannot explain the DNO route, products are substituted without agreement, important costs appear late, monitoring cannot be demonstrated or you are told handover paperwork is unnecessary.
Be cautious about pressure to sign immediately. RECC advises consumers not to sign because of pressure or a time-limited discount. Its guidance also says consumers dealing with RECC members should not pay more than 25% of the contract price upfront and should check that advance payments are protected.
The aim is not to second-guess the installer’s engineering. It is to make sure the system, paperwork and commercial agreement match what you were promised.
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Check your roof condition, shading, electricity consumption, proposed panel layout, expected annual generation, equipment specification, warranties, installation price and installer credentials. You should also establish whether planning or DNO approval is relevant before work begins.
Energy Saving Trust and RECC recommend obtaining at least three quotations. Compare the system design and assumptions as well as the headline price.
MCS certification provides an established framework covering the design, installation, commissioning and handover of solar PV systems. Energy Saving Trust recommends looking for MCS-certified installers, and certification under MCS or an accredited equivalent is commonly relevant when applying for the Smart Export Guarantee.
Not always. Rules depend on the UK nation, property and installation. In England, many domestic rooftop systems can qualify as permitted development when the relevant conditions are met, but restrictions apply in some circumstances.
The survey should establish whether the proposed design is suitable for the real property. Relevant checks can include the roof, shading, electrical equipment, cable routes and practical locations for the inverter and battery.
Your Distribution Network Operator manages the local electricity network. Solar and battery systems connected in parallel with that network must follow the applicable connection requirements, normally through the G98 or G99 framework in Great Britain.
G98 generally covers fully compliant small generators up to 16A per phase. Generation above that level, or equipment that does not meet G98 requirements, falls into G99 procedures. The installer should determine the correct route for the proposed system.
Energy Saving Trust says an installer will typically need around one to two days for a domestic rooftop installation, although scaffolding and other preparation may happen separately. Complex roofs, batteries or electrical upgrades can extend the work.
The handover documentation should cover system information, equipment documentation, test and commissioning records, operating and maintenance instructions, warranties and applicable certification. MCS provides a dedicated checklist for solar PV handovers.
GOV.UK says SEG applicants need to demonstrate that their installation and installer are certified through MCS or an accredited equivalent scheme such as Flexi-Orb. Other eligibility requirements also apply.
No. Eligible generators need to apply to a SEG licensee for an export tariff. Your SEG provider does not have to be the same company that supplies your electricity.
Ideally, yes. Ask the installer to demonstrate monitoring and make sure you can access the relevant account. This lets you confirm that generation data is visible and avoids discovering login or connectivity problems later.
Equipment availability can change, but a material substitution should be explained before installation. Check the replacement model, performance specification, compatibility and warranty rather than assuming it is equivalent.
Raise any known roof problems during the survey. Solar panels are intended to remain in place for many years, so repairing an unsuitable roof before installation may avoid the cost and disruption of removing and refitting the array later.
Energy Saving Trust does not recommend DIY rooftop solar installation. Even where panels themselves can legally be fitted by a homeowner, electrical connection and scheme-certification requirements make professional installation the practical route for most households.
Conclusion
The most useful solar panel installation checklist follows the project from quotation to handover. Before signing, verify the design, forecast, equipment, price and installer credentials. Before installation, confirm the layout, planning position and DNO route. During the work, make sure material changes are explained. At handover, check the system is tested, monitoring works and the paperwork is complete.
Keep every certificate, warranty and drawing with your property records. That gives you a stronger basis for comparing quotes, resolving problems, maintaining the system and applying for export payments later.
