Is Balcony Solar Legal in the UK? Everything That Changed in April 2026
Updated: May 2026 · By Depth of Light Ltd, Milton Keynes
For years, balcony and plug-in solar sat in a UK regulatory grey area — technically possible, often DIY, rarely legally clean. BS 7671 Amendment 4, which came into force in April 2026, finally formalised the rules. Here's what's now allowed, which kits are actually certified, and where the rules still catch people out.
The short answer
Yes — balcony and plug-in solar are now legal in the UK, with two important conditions during 2026:
- The equipment must be on the ENA register to count as compliant. As of 27 August 2026 that means seven kits, all made by UKSOL.
- The DNO must be notified under G98. The 800W output limit means most installs use the simpler G98 (rather than G99) process.
What BS 7671 Amendment 4 actually changed
The previous wiring regulations (BS 7671:2018 + Amendments 1-3) didn't have a clear category for small plug-in solar systems. They were neither explicitly allowed nor explicitly prohibited. In practice this meant insurers refused claims, councils raised eyebrows, and the safest interpretation was "don't".
Amendment 4 introduced a new section covering small-scale prosumer installations up to 800W. Key points:
- Up to 800W of solar output per property is permitted
- Hardwired connection to the consumer unit, with a dedicated MCB
- Microinverter or string inverter sized appropriately
- RCD/RCBO protection on the new circuit
- G98 DNO notification (within 28 days of energisation, handled by the installer)
- Must be installed by a registered electrician (NICEIC, NAPIT, ELECSA or equivalent) until DIY plug-and-play kits are formally certified
The Renters' Rights Act 2025 — your right to request
The Renters' Rights Act 2025 introduced a "right to request" clause that means landlords can no longer unreasonably refuse a tenant's request to install reversible energy efficiency measures, including balcony solar. Combined with the new BS 7671 framework, this is the first time UK renters have had a clear, legal route to install their own solar.
Certified kits arrived in August 2026
The certification framework landed sooner, and broader, than expected. On 18 and 19 August 2026 the first plug-in solar kits appeared on the ENA register of compliant equipment. There are seven of them, and all seven are made by UKSOL Ltd. If a kit is not on that register, it is not compliant equipment, whatever the product listing claims.
Worth correcting an earlier expectation on this page: the framework was widely predicted to be capped at single-panel 400W installs. It was not. The registered kits run to twin-panel arrays of 1260W — though every one of them is limited to 800W of export, which is the number that actually matters. The panel figure is the array size, not what reaches your home.
Reasons to still use a professional install rather than fitting a kit yourself:
- Your wiring is not covered by the kit's certification — see below
- MCS certification (self-fitted kits aren't MCS-eligible)
- Insurance — most home insurers require professional install
- 0% VAT (kits sold direct to consumer don't qualify)
- Smart Export Guarantee (requires MCS)
The register certifies the kit, not your house
This is the distinction that gets lost. A kit on the ENA register has been assessed as a product. Nobody has assessed the circuit you are about to back-feed 800W into.
Whether that circuit can take it depends on whether the socket circuit is RCD-protected, how heavily the ring final is already loaded, whether the board has surge protection, and whether the installation is TT earthed. A rewireable board, or one with a single 30mA RCD covering the whole installation, is the case worth looking at before you buy.
If your consumer unit dates from roughly 2016 onward, the answer is usually that it is fine and you need nothing further. If it is older, our guides to EICRs before solar and consumer unit upgrade costs cover what is involved.
What it costs to install legally in 2026
- Single panel (~400W) hardwired install: from £800 fully installed, MCS certified
- Twin panel (~800W, max permitted): from £1,400 fully installed
- DIY kit (currently non-compliant): £400-£600 — but voids insurance, no MCS, no SEG eligibility
Bottom line
Balcony solar is finally legal — but the cheap DIY route most people picture isn't yet legal in the UK. Until the plug-and-play framework lands, the legal route is a hardwired install by a registered electrician. We do these across Milton Keynes and Buckinghamshire — see our balcony solar service page.
Get a Balcony Solar Quote
Free survey across Milton Keynes and Buckinghamshire — MCS & NAPIT certified.