Legal in Great Britain from 27 August 2026
Solar you can plug in. Even if you rent.
No roof. No installer. No permission to drill anything. A panel on a balcony, a wall or a patio, plugged into an ordinary socket.
Anything above the line cannot legally be connected through a plug from 27 August 2026. Kits sold as a certified complete package sit at or below it.
The three questions worth answering first
Am I allowed to?
From 27 August 2026, yes, within five conditions written into law. We quote the instrument rather than paraphrasing someone else who did.
Read what the law saysDo I have to tell anyone?
Yes, your network operator, before you switch it on. You do not need their permission. Almost every guide online confuses the two.
Who to tell, and whenIs it actually worth it?
We modelled seven UK cities. Mounting a panel flat against a railing costs about a quarter of its output, which matters more than which city you live in.
See the figuresThere is a fourth question, which is what you can actually buy. Sixteen days before the law changes, the answer is uncomfortable:we could not find a UK listing that evidences compliance.
Legal since 27 August 2026
Find out when a kit's compliance is verified
Kits are on sale, but no seller we have checked publishes a type-test reference yet. We are tracking which ones qualify, and what they cost. One email when that changes. Nothing else.