Panels sized to the roof you’ve actually got.
An MCS-certified surveyor checks your property in person, whether that’s a 1930s semi in Harrow or a Victorian terrace near Clapham, before anything gets specced. Solar and battery installations are also currently zero-rated for VAT, a relief that runs until 31 March 2027.
Every borough surveys differently.
A bay-fronted Victorian terrace in Zone 2 and a 1930s detached house in Bromley or Sutton don’t take the same system, even if the headline numbers look similar on paper. Orientation, chimney breasts, dormers and neighbouring shade all change what a roof can actually hold, which is exactly why every quote here starts with a survey, not a satellite estimate.
Panels generate most of their output in the day, often while a household is out at work. If that’s your pattern, battery storage is worth adding so generation doesn’t just get exported at a lower rate than you’d pay to buy it back that evening.
String inverter
One unit runs the whole array. The cheapest option, and fine for a simple, unshaded roof.
Microinverters
One small unit per panel. Costs more, but a chimney or a neighbouring roofline shading part of the array won’t drag the whole system down.
Hybrid inverter
Built with battery storage in mind from day one. The sensible default if a battery’s on the cards now or later.
What London’s planning rules actually mean.
Most homes across the capital fall under permitted development, so no planning application is needed for a standard roof-mounted array. The usual conditions apply: panels can’t protrude more than 200mm from the roof surface, can’t sit above the ridge line, and can’t go on a wall that fronts a highway if your property is in a conservation area.
London has a lot of both. Listed buildings need separate Listed Building Consent regardless of size, and some conservation areas carry an Article 4 Direction that removes permitted development rights entirely. We check your address against both before booking a survey, so there are no surprises partway through a quote.
How long does an installation take?
One to two days for most homes, depending on system size and access. Scaffolding usually goes up the day before, and your installer will walk you through the system before they leave.
Will I need planning permission?
Most London properties fall under permitted development, so no application is needed. Listed buildings and some conservation areas with an Article 4 Direction are the main exceptions, where permission can be required even for work that would be permitted development elsewhere.
What if my roof is south-facing but overlooked by taller buildings?
We model shading from neighbouring properties as part of every survey. Depending on the result, that sometimes points towards microinverters or a different roof face rather than ruling solar out.
How much roof space do I need?
It depends on your household’s electricity usage and how many panels you want fitted, which is exactly what a site survey establishes. We model your roof’s usable area, orientation and shading before recommending a system size.