| Workmanship guarantee under the Consumer Code | At least 2 years, transferable to a new owner |
|---|---|
| MCS certificate | Generated within 10 working days of commissioning |
| Insolvency cover | Consumer Code members must back workmanship guarantees with insurance |
Four kinds of protection
A solar job can carry several promises. Some come from the maker, some from the installer and some from an insurer. Because each has its own terms, a single long warranty headline tells you very little.
This page separates them. It also lists the certificates you should hold when the job ends. With both lists to hand, you can check a quote against them before you sign.
If you hold quotes already, compare their warranty wording as part of a like-for-like comparison. Warranty terms are one of the easiest places for two quotes to differ, because few buyers read them.
Product warranties
A product warranty covers faults in the equipment itself. It comes from the manufacturer, and panels, inverters and batteries each have their own, so you will hold several.
The Renewable Energy Consumer Code says members must give you a guarantee against manufacturing faults at no extra cost. This applies to the generator and to any related product. The terms must be fair, explained in plain English and must not limit your legal rights. Where the manufacturer is based outside the EU, you must be given the importer’s or distributor’s details. That firm takes on the manufacturer’s duties if a fault arises.
Read the small print for what the warranty does not cover. For example, some cover the part but not the labour or scaffolding needed to replace it. Ask who pays for access if a panel or inverter fails on the roof.
Performance warranties
A performance warranty concerns long-term power output. It sets a minimum output level over time. Check who stands behind it.
The Code treats output guarantees as optional. If an installer offers one, however, the conditions must be clear. The Code gives an example of a guarantee that output will stay above 80 per cent of the predicted level over a year.
Check what you must do to claim and what evidence is needed, because rules differ. See also how panels age and what performance warranties cover.
Workmanship warranties
A workmanship warranty covers faults caused by the installation. Leaks or loose fixings are typical examples.
The Consumer Code requires members to give a written workmanship guarantee at no extra cost. It must last at least 2 years, and it must be transferable if you move home. That point matters because you may sell one day, so read about selling a house with solar panels.
Workmanship cover is only as good as the firm behind it. If the installer stops trading, the promise can vanish. For that reason the Code requires members to arrange an insurance-backed workmanship guarantee, so the full term is honoured after insolvency.
Ask for the following in writing:
- The length of the guarantee and what it covers
- Who underwrites it, and how to claim
- Whether it transfers to a new owner
- Any exclusions, such as work by other trades
Extended warranties and optional extras
Extended guarantees are optional under the Code. The seller must say who offers them, what they cost and what the main benefits are. Treat any pressure to buy one as a warning sign, since the Code says they are optional. Check our list of solar quote red flags.
Certificates and records you should receive
Warranties are promises. Certificates are proof that the job was done properly. Without them, you may struggle to claim, sell or insure, so collect them all.
MCS certificate
Under the MCS standard, the installer must register the system on the MCS Installation Database within 10 working days of commissioning. An MCS certificate is then generated and sent to you for the handover pack. Although the certificate is not a warranty, it unlocks export payments. Ofgem says solar PV up to 50 kW needs an MCS certificate, or an equivalent, to qualify for Smart Export Guarantee payments in Great Britain.
Commissioning and test records
The handover must include the forms and checklists used to commission the system. MCS also publishes a model handover document based on a standard for PV testing. It refers to inspection and test reports for the circuits and the panel array. Ask for copies of all of them, because installers do not always send them unprompted.
Grid notification
The MCS contractor must notify your distribution network operator. The MCS standard points to G98 for installations up to 16 amps per phase. Above that, G99 applies instead. Our guide to G98 and G99 applications explains the difference.
Building regulations
Some solar work is notifiable under the Building Regulations. The installer must tell you who is responsible for the notification. If it falls to them, they must complete it before handover. Self-certification is allowed only where the installer belongs to an approved competent persons scheme. Planning is a separate question, however, so see planning permission for solar panels.
What to ask for at handover
On the day, ask for a document pack and a signed declaration, because it is harder to get them later. The MCS standard says the pack must include the commissioning forms, maintenance advice, manuals and warranty details. The signed declaration confirms that the install meets the standard, and it lists the key components and the performance estimate.
Also ask the following:
- The date the system was registered with MCS
- A copy of the MCS certificate
- The grid notification confirmation
- Proof of building regulations compliance, where it applies
- Warranty documents with claim contact details
- The recommended date of the first inspection
Keep everything together, because your insurer may ask for it. Read our note on solar panels and home insurance for more.
Check the installer before you sign
Warranties only help if the firm is real and reachable, since a promise from a closed firm is worthless. Use our guide to checking a solar installer to confirm certification and membership.
Prices and cover vary by area. See what to expect in how quotes look across Yorkshire and the Humber and in the East Midlands market. When you are ready, you can ask for quotes from MCS-certified installers. Solar Panel Price Check is independent and is not an installer.