Questions to ask before agreeing funded solar work
Whether solar is being paid for by a council scheme, a loan or your own savings, the questions that protect you are much the same. They are easiest to ask before anything is signed. Here they are, stage by stage.
The short answer
Yes, ask them all. A genuine scheme or installer will answer every one of these clearly, in writing. Unclear answers about who is paying, who decided you are eligible, or what you are signing are reasons to stop and check before going further.
Facts checked at source on 2 and 3 November 2026 · Solar PV Panels Grants is an independent explainer from SEO-DONS LTD, not a scheme
The questions, in the order they come up
When you are first contacted
- Which scheme is this, by its official name?
- Which council, supplier or scheme team is behind it, and how can I contact them directly?
- How did you get my details?
- Is anything being sold to me today?
Before an assessment
- Who is carrying out the assessment, and who appointed them?
- Is there any charge for the assessment, now or later?
- What evidence of eligibility will I need, and who checks it?
When you are offered measures
- Which measures will be funded, and which, if any, would I pay for?
- Why have these measures been chosen for my home?
- If solar is included, how big is the system and where will the panels go?
- Is a battery included, and is the installer certified for battery storage?
Before you sign anything
- Is this a grant, a loan, or a mix? Show me in writing.
- What is the total I will pay, if anything, including VAT?
- Is there a cancellation period, and how do I use it?
- Does the document mention a lease, a finance agreement or a charge on the property?
After installation
- Where is the MCS certificate, and the installation and warranty documents?
- Has the network operator been notified of the installation?
- What do I need to do to apply for export payments?
- Who do I contact if something goes wrong?
Keep a record
Write down who you spoke to, when, and what they said. Ask for anything important by email. If an answer changes later, you'll have the original to point to.
What the answers tell you
The scheme's name lets you check it independently. Genuine schemes have official names and pages on GOV.UK, gov.wales or a council website. "The government solar scheme" isn't a name.
Who decided you are eligible matters because in genuine means-tested schemes, a council or scheme team decides, against published conditions. A salesperson's view of your eligibility is not a decision.
Grant, loan or a mix is the single most important answer. A loan presented alongside a scheme can be mistaken for part of it. Under consumer law, calling something free when you pay anything is banned outright.
The MCS certificate is what you need for export payments and what shows the installation met the standard. Check the installer's certification on the MCS website for each technology in the job: solar PV and battery storage are separate.
Answers that should make you stop
- The caller can't or won't name the scheme, council or supplier.
- You are asked for a fee to "secure" or "process" a grant.
- You are told you qualify before anyone has checked income, benefits or the EPC.
- There is pressure to sign on the day, or the offer "expires" tonight.
- The paperwork includes a finance agreement you weren't told about.
- The installer claims government approval or uses government branding.
- You are asked to sign a lease for the roof space.
If any of these happen, end the conversation and check the scheme yourself. Citizens Advice can help if you're unsure. More in spotting fake grant offers.
Extra questions when you're paying or borrowing
If part or all of the job is on you, through savings or a loan, a few more questions matter.
- Is the VAT shown correctly? Installed solar in a home is zero-rated until 31 March 2027, then 5%.
- How was any savings figure worked out: which electricity price, export rate and usage?
- If it's a loan, is the lender on the GOV.UK list for the Warm Homes Loan Scheme, or is it a different product?
- What is the total amount repayable?
- Can I see quotes from more than one installer before deciding?
See the loan scheme and VAT relief.
Questions for a Local Grant offer
Under Warm Homes: Local Grant, the council or its delivery partner appoints the contractors, so some questions go to the council rather than the installer.
- Which contractor has the council appointed, and how will they contact me?
- What will the work involve, and how long will it take?
- Who do I contact at the council if I have a concern during or after the work?
- Will I be asked to pay anything towards the work?
How to ask so the answers are useful
Ask open questions and let the other person fill the silence: "who is paying for this?" gets a clearer answer than "this is free, isn't it?". Ask for anything that matters in writing, even if it has been said out loud. And ask the same question of the council or scheme as of the installer, because their answers should match. If they don't, the scheme's answer is the one to rely on.
It is fine to say you need time to think, and to ask someone else in the family to read the paperwork. A genuine scheme or a reputable installer will expect that.
Paperwork to keep
Keep these together, ideally with the home's other documents. You'll need them for export payments, insurance, and when you sell.
- The MCS certificate for each technology installed.
- Warranty documents for the panels, inverter and any battery.
- The installer's handover pack and any commissioning record.
- Confirmation that the network operator was notified.
- The contract, invoice and, if relevant, finance agreement or council offer letter.
Where these facts come from
- GOV.UK — Apply for Warm Homes: Local Grant (England) — checked 2 November 2026
- MCS — find a certified installer — checked 3 November 2026
- GOV.UK — Warm Homes Loan Scheme factsheet (27 October 2026) — checked 3 November 2026
- HMRC — VAT Notice 708/6, energy-saving materials — checked 3 November 2026
- Ofgem — SEG generator guidance (PDF) — checked 2 November 2026
- legislation.gov.uk — DMCC Act 2024, Schedule 20 (banned practices) — checked 2 November 2026
- Citizens Advice — scams — checked 3 November 2026
Not sure which route, if any, fits your home?
Tell us where you live and what you are looking into. Your message reaches SEO-DONS LTD, the publisher of this explainer, and we answer by email. We are not a scheme and cannot approve anything, but we can point you to the right door.
What happens next
- Your message reaches SEO-DONS LTD, which publishes this explainer.
- We reply by email with the scheme or council page that fits, if there is one.
- Any application is between you and that scheme.