| MCS lookup | Search by installer name or certification number, or by technology and location |
|---|---|
| RECC advice on deposits | Never pay more than 25% of the contract price up front |
| Cancellation period RECC describes | 14 days for a contract signed in your home |
| Deposit insurance period (providers RECC lists) | From 90 days to 120 days or more |
1. Look them up on the MCS register
MCS is the UK’s quality mark for solar panels and heat pumps. Its Find an Installer tool lets you search by installer name or certification number. You can also search by technology and location.
Check that MCS certifies the installer for solar PV, and for battery storage if you want one. MCS certification also counts as a requirement for many government incentives, so the check pays off twice. Ofgem’s Smart Export Guarantee rules also ask you to show that your installation and installer are certified, for example with an MCS certificate.
Ask to see the company’s certificate number, then confirm it yourself, because a logo on a van proves nothing. Our guide to warranties and certificates explains which papers you should receive after the install.
2. Check RECC or HIES membership
Two consumer codes are worth looking for. The Renewable Energy Consumer Code (RECC) publishes a member list on its website. HIES says its accredited installers follow a consumer code that the Chartered Trading Standards Institute approves. It has its own installer directory.
Membership is not a guarantee of quality. However, it gives you a code to hold the installer to, and a complaints route if things go wrong.
Search for the exact company name, because a similar name can belong to a different business.
3. Check the company at Companies House
Companies House lets you search by company name, number or officer name. You can view company data and filed documents.
Look at the registered name, the date of incorporation and the filed accounts. Compare the name on the quote with the name on the register. However, note that Companies House says it does not check the accuracy of the information filed. So treat it as one clue, not proof.
A company that has existed only a few weeks is not necessarily bad. Yet you should ask how it will honour a 10-year or 25-year warranty.
4. Look for TrustMark
TrustMark is the government endorsed quality scheme for work in or around the home. Ofgem says TrustMark must accredit any installer that delivers ECO, and the installer must hold a registration number. It advises you to ask to see credentials and check them on the TrustMark website.
Treat TrustMark as a useful extra check, particularly if a grant is involved, because ECO installers must hold it.
5. Ask who insures the deposit and the workmanship
This check protects your money if the installer stops trading. RECC says its members must insure deposits and further stage payments, together with the workmanship warranties they issue. That protects you if the installer stops trading.
RECC also says it is not an insurance company. Therefore the cover applies only if your installer has registered your installation with an insurer or other provider. Ask for the policy documents.
The providers RECC lists offer deposit cover from 90 days to 120 days or more. Their guarantees run from 2 years up to 12 years. Some require you to report defects within 30 days of finding them. Read the terms before you pay, because they differ.
You can find your insurer in the installer’s paperwork or on your MCS certificate. Since this matters, read more in our guide to deposit and payment checks.
6. Watch the sales process
Pressure is a red flag in itself. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) guidance on unfair commercial practices gives a home improvement example. A trader cold calls, refuses to leave when asked, starts work without permission and falsely says the roof needs repair. The CMA explains why these acts break the law.
The same guidance bans falsely claiming that an offer is only available for a limited time. RECC also tells you not to sign if the sales representative:
- stays in your home for more than two hours;
- offers a high first price followed by a discount;
- offers a discount for signing that day;
- offers a discount for monitoring performance or giving a testimonial;
- holds back price information until the end, or asks what other quotes you have;
- claims the product has limited availability.
Our article on solar quote red flags goes through more warning signs. If you have already signed, RECC says you can cancel a contract signed at home within 14 days of delivery. You must consent in writing if work starts sooner.
MCS has also warned about texts that claim your solar warranty has expired. It says the only website linked to MCS is mcscertified.com.
7. Get it in writing
Before you pay anything, ask for:
- a written quote with a full breakdown of what is supplied;
- a performance estimate specific to your home;
- the contract terms;
- proof of MCS certification and deposit insurance.
RECC advises at least three quotes. Compare solar quotes using the same checks for each, because that makes weak offers easy to spot. Then request free quotes if you would like us to pass your details to MCS-certified installers.
Checks that matter later
Good paperwork helps beyond the install. Buyers may ask for it if you sell, so read selling a house with solar panels. Your installer should also tell you about permissions, which our guide to planning permission covers. Finally, tell your insurer, as explained in our article on solar panels and home insurance.
Local pages can help too, although the checks stay the same. See how quotes in the South West and the West Midlands compare.