Solar Grant Claim Checklist
A phrase such as “free solar grant” is not an official scheme name. Before sharing personal details, identify the exact programme, the delivery body and the eligibility route. Current support is targeted rather than universal.
1. Name the official scheme
Ask for the full name and an official government, council, Ofgem, supplier or housing-provider page. In July 2026, relevant routes can include the Warm Homes: Local Grant in England, the extended ECO4 programme in Great Britain and social-housing projects. Zero VAT and the Smart Export Guarantee are useful, but they are not upfront grants.
2. Check geography and application route
- Which UK nation and council area does it cover?
- Do households apply, or does a council, supplier or landlord select projects?
- Is the service currently open to new applicants?
- Is solar an eligible measure or only one possible recommendation?
3. Check household eligibility
- Income threshold, qualifying benefits or local-authority flexibility route.
- Who verifies identity, occupancy and household evidence.
- Whether a postcode route or vulnerability rule applies.
- Whether eligibility is provisional until survey and final approval.
4. Check the property
- Required EPC band and tenure.
- Roof, wiring and solar suitability.
- Whether insulation or heating measures must be considered first.
- Landlord, freeholder, lease or planning consent.
5. Check the delivery chain
- Name of the council, obligated supplier or registered housing provider.
- Legal identities of the lead generator, coordinator and installer.
- MCS status for the proposed solar installation.
- Warranties, guarantees, complaints route and data-protection notice.
6. Check ownership and money
- Who owns the panels after installation.
- Whether any finance, loan, roof lease or customer contribution is involved.
- Who receives export payments.
- What happens if eligibility fails after a survey.
Pressure warnings
Pause if a caller guarantees approval before evidence or survey, invents a same-day government deadline, asks for bank details to release funding, refuses to name the scheme or disguises finance as a grant.
If a grant offer contacts you first
Do not use a link or phone number in an unexpected message. Ask the caller to give you these details, then end the call:
- The exact official scheme name.
- The legal company name and company number.
- The council, energy supplier or housing provider behind the work.
- Why they think your home may qualify and what information they want.
Find the council, supplier or scheme website yourself and use the contact details published there. The National Cyber Security Centre says not to click links or enter information after a suspicious message. A recent Insolvency Service case also involved false promises of government solar refunds.
Keep a paid comparison
A normal property-specific quote can show the fallback installed cost and system size without proving grant eligibility. Compare any funded design with the pre-sign checklist, and read the current solar funding guide.
Before entering details: use the ECO4 online-form guide to confirm who owns the form and what it can actually approve.
Optional next step
If grant eligibility is unclear, do not stop there.
A standard quote can give you a fallback cost, even if you still explore ECO4 or other support.
- No pressure from Here4Solar
- Personalised home quote
- Check if solar could work
Compare at least three written quotes before choosing an installer.