Plug-in solar on a balcony: what leaseholders and block directors should check first
Plug-in solar panels of up to 800W have been legal to buy and use in Great Britain since 27 August 2026. The government says owners should first check whether they need permission, including from the freeholder. Here is what that means in a block of flats.
What changed
From 27 August 2026, plug-in solar kits that meet the government’s safety specification became legal to buy and plug into a normal socket in Great Britain. The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero said each kit produces up to 800W, could provide up to 20% of an average home’s electricity, and could save a household up to £110 a year. The change followed a consultation on the Plugs and Sockets etc. (Safety) Regulations 1994 and an independent electrical safety study. It is in force.
The government’s announcement says the panels “can be put in any outdoor space or on some balconies”, and that before buying or fitting one, people should check whether any permissions are needed: “permission from a landlord and/or building owner or freeholder permission, planning permission or listed building consent”.
What it means in a block of flats
Most flat owners hold a lease that controls what they can attach to the building. Three questions usually decide whether a balcony panel needs consent:
- Is the balcony part of your flat? Some leases include the balcony in the flat; others keep the balcony structure, railings and outside walls as part of the building the company maintains.
- Does the lease restrict alterations or fixings? Many leases ban or require consent for alterations, fixings to the outside, or anything that changes the look of the building.
- Who gives consent? In a block run by its own freehold or RTM company, the request usually goes to the directors, sometimes through the managing agent.
For directors, the safety questions matter as much as the lease. A panel fixed to railings adds load and wind exposure, and anything on a balcony may be relevant to the building’s fire risk assessment. Ask the fire risk assessor whether balcony items affect the assessment, especially in taller buildings.
What to do now
- Leaseholders: read your lease’s sections on alterations and on what is included in your flat, then write to the company describing the kit, how it will be fixed and where the cable will run.
- Directors: agree a simple policy so every request gets the same answer: what kits are acceptable, how they may be fixed, and who checks them. Record the decision at a board meeting.
- Both: buy only kits that meet the UK specification described in the government’s consultation outcome, and do not drill into the outside of the building without consent.
This is general information, not legal advice. Whether consent is needed depends on your lease.
How Freeholdpilot helps
Freeholdpilot keeps the leases in the building’s document drive and its votes and resolutions tool lets directors record a policy, such as one on plug-in solar, so the board can answer every request the same way.
Questions
Can I put a plug-in solar panel on my balcony?
It may be possible, but check first. The government says permissions may be needed, including from a landlord, building owner or freeholder, planning permission or listed building consent. Your lease says what you may fix to the building and whether the balcony is part of your flat.
Is plug-in solar legal everywhere in the UK?
The government's announcement covers Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales). Northern Ireland is not covered by that announcement.
Can the freeholder or management company say no?
The government says decisions on requests are a matter for landlords, freeholders or councils, and encourages them to consider each case on its merits. Whether consent can be refused, or must not be unreasonably refused, depends on the wording of your lease.
Sources
This is general information about the law in England and Wales unless it says otherwise, not legal advice for your building. For advice, speak to a solicitor or ask us to introduce one of our partner firms.
