Checking the firm
- MCS. Search the MCS register for solar PV. Your system's MCS certificate is what lets you sign up for an export rate.
- Consumer code. MCS installers must belong to a code approved by the Chartered Trading Standards Institute, such as RECC or HIES, which sets rules on sales, deposits and complaints and offers a way to resolve disputes.
- TrustMark. Many installers are also TrustMark registered; publicly funded schemes commonly require it.
- Companies House. The company number on the quote should match the trading name, registered office and directors. A very new company with a long trading history in its sales pitch deserves a question.
A quote, line by line
| Item | Look for |
|---|---|
| System | Size in kW, panel make and model, number of panels, a layout drawing with stacks, offshoots and dormers |
| Output | Predicted kWh a year by the MCS method; compare with the estimator for the same direction and pitch |
| Shade | What shades the roof and when, with the loss estimated; panel-level electronics only if justified |
| Planning | Whether the house is listed or in a conservation area with an Article 4 direction, and what that means for the design |
| Scaffold | Included, with its position; who obtains the council's licence if it stands on the pavement; access over any parapet |
| Network | The SP Energy Networks notification, or an application if the system and any battery exceed 3.68 kW |
| Roof work | How slates or tiles are lifted and replaced, and who is responsible for any damage |
| Warranties | Panels, inverter, workmanship (insurance-backed) and roof work |
| Money | Deposit and its protection, stage payments, VAT shown (0% until 31 March 2027) |
The price per kW
MCS-certified systems in the North West averaged £2,021 per kW up to 4 kW and £1,768 per kW from 4 to 10 kW in 2025/26, across 22,981 MCS-certified installations (DESNZ). Divide each quote by its size in kW. A small terrace system, scaffold over a parapet or optimisers for shade can explain a higher figure; a very high or very low one with no explanation deserves questions. Totals by size are on the costs page.
Group-buying offers
The Liverpool City Region Combined Authority has run Solar Together group-buying rounds, in which installers bid to supply registered households (LCRCA). An offer from a round is still a quote: check the firm, read what is included and compare it on price per kW and predicted output. You are under no obligation to accept.
Before signing
- No rush. Discounts that end today are a tactic; the VAT date is 1 April 2027.
- Cancellation. Contracts made at home or online usually carry 14 days to cancel, explained in writing (Consumer Contracts Regulations).
- Deposits. Keep them modest and protected under the consumer code.
- Finance. A loan is a loan; compare the rate and the total payable.
- Consent. Tenants and leaseholders need the owner's or freeholder's written agreement first.
Rented, listed and Article 4 homes
- Privately rented. 26.1% of Liverpool households rent privately (Census 2021), and the council's licensing scheme covers around 80% of that sector for 1 April 2022 to 31 March 2027 (Liverpool City Council). The landlord chooses the installer; a tenant can ask to see the MCS certificate and the handover pack.
- Housing association homes. 21.9% of households rent from a housing association. Any panels are the association's decision, so ask it before agreeing to anything a door-to-door seller offers.
- Listed or in a conservation area. Liverpool has 1,527 listed entries and 36 conservation areas, most under Article 4 directions. Ask each firm who will speak to the council and whether the contract waits for its answer; see planning and Article 4.
Three quotes, one roof: lining them up
Quotes only compare fairly when they describe the same job. Before setting them side by side, ask each firm to quote for the same slope and a similar size, then write down for each: the size in kW, the panel and inverter models, the yearly estimate in kWh, the total price and the price per kW, what is included for scaffolding, and the warranty terms. A south roof at 35° in the city centre makes about 965 kWh per kW a year (PVGIS 5.3), so an estimate far above that for a south slope needs explaining; the rooftop estimator gives the figure for any other direction. Price each one per kW against the North West mean of £2,021 on the costs page, and if one quote is much cheaper, find the line it has left out.
Two more questions for each firm. How long is the quote valid, and does the price change if the work slips past 31 March 2027, when VAT on installed solar rises from 0% to 5%? And who tells SP Energy Networks about the system: for one up to 3.68 kW per phase the network must be told before or at commissioning, while a bigger system, or one with a battery over that limit, needs an application first (SP Energy Networks).
What you should receive
After the work: the MCS certificate, an electrical installation certificate, confirmation of building regulations compliance, a copy of the SP Energy Networks notification, the warranties and the consumer code paperwork. File them together; the MCS certificate is needed for an export rate, and a buyer's solicitor will ask for the set. Then read looking after panels and export payments.