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Grants and funding

Free solar panels: who actually qualifies?

By
The Editor
Last updated

The short answer: free solar panels do exist, but only for households that meet set criteria. In England the main route is the Warm Homes: Local Grant. If you do not qualify, an offer of "free solar panels" is a finance deal or a sales tactic.

The Warm Homes: Local Grant

The grant pays for energy-saving improvements to your home, arranged by your local council. These can include solar panels, insulation, air source heat pumps and smart controls. The council arranges a survey and decides which improvements suit the property.

Who is eligible

Your home must:

  • be in England
  • be privately owned, either by you or your landlord
  • have an Energy Performance Certificate rating of D, E, F or G

Your household income must usually be £36,000 a year or less. If you earn more than that, you might still be eligible if you live in certain postcode areas or someone in your household gets certain benefits.

Funding depends on your council having money available, so eligibility is not a guarantee.

How to apply

Apply through GOV.UK, which checks your eligibility and passes you to your council. The link is in the sources below. Never pay anyone to apply on your behalf.

Other routes

  • Social housing tenants. Your landlord may be upgrading homes through separate government funding. Ask them directly.
  • Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Each runs its own schemes. Check with your national energy advice service.

If you do not qualify

Spotting a "free solar" scam

  • You are contacted out of the blue by phone, at the door or on social media.
  • You are told you qualify before anyone has checked your income or your home.
  • You are asked for an upfront fee, or to sign a finance agreement.
  • The "grant" is said to run out today.

See how to avoid rogue installers.

Sources

Correct at the time of publication, 14 November 2026.

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