The Warm Homes Loan Scheme pays for named technologies, not for whatever a quotation happens to list. When you take a solar panel or battery quotation to a lender under the scheme, each line on it either falls inside the rules or it does not, and the lender will check. This guide goes through a typical solar and battery quotation, line by line, against the scheme rules published by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (version 3, September 2026), the GOV.UK guide and the government’s factsheet of 27 October 2026, all read on 3 November 2026.
One point first, because it shapes everything below. Home Comfort Enterprises (HCE) is an MCS-certified installer of solar PV and battery storage. HCE is not a lender or credit broker and does not arrange the loan. You choose a lender from the GOV.UK lender list and apply to it yourself. For who can apply and how it works in Barnet, Finchley and the rest of North London, see our Warm Homes Loan Scheme page.
The caps: one per technology
The rules set a maximum loan for each eligible technology. For the two that matter on a home solar job:
| Technology | Maximum loan under the scheme |
|---|---|
| Solar panels (new roof-mounted panels, or panels added to an existing system) | £15,000 |
| Battery storage (on its own, or paired with solar panels) | £15,000 |
The rules add that any extra work funded by the loan “must also fall within the relevant measure caps”. So scaffolding for the panels counts against the £15,000 solar cap, and the battery’s own installation work counts against the battery cap. GOV.UK says one loan can pay for more than one improvement, but how a lender structures that is up to the lender.
Line by line: a solar panel quotation
The rules expect a typical solar quotation to include more than the panels. Here is how the usual lines fall:
| Line on the quotation | Covered by the scheme? | What the rules say |
|---|---|---|
| Panels, inverter, mounting and wiring | Yes, within £15,000 | Solar PV is an eligible measure, including installation and labour |
| Scaffolding and temporary safety equipment | Yes, within £15,000 | Named as typical ancillary works for solar |
| Grid connection | Yes, within £15,000 | Named as typical ancillary works for solar |
| EV charger and its wiring | Only with the solar or battery job | Never a standalone measure; OZEV-approved charger and installer |
| Roof repairs or replacement before fitting | No | The scheme “will not fund replacement roofing or other structural work” |
| Insulation, windows, doors | No | Not eligible measures |
The roof line is the one most likely to surprise people. If a survey finds that tiles, battens or a valley need work before panels can safely go on, that cost sits outside the scheme. The rules let a lender offer a separate loan for it, on its usual terms, but it is not a Warm Homes Loan.
Line by line: a battery quotation
For a battery, the rules say a typical quotation may include:
- integration with an existing solar PV system, if there is one;
- setting up monitoring apps or control systems;
- isolators, breakers and other protection devices.
A battery does not need panels to qualify: the rules cover “both standalone battery installations and those paired with solar PV”. That matters for a home that already has panels and wants to store more of what they make, which is a common reason for a battery quotation in North London. The battery systems in our own job photos are EnSmart, and our battery storage page explains how a battery is sized.
The installer has to be certified for the exact technology
The rules name MCS as the certification body and say installers “must be MCS certified for the specific eligible measure they are delivering”. A firm certified for solar PV only cannot fit a scheme-funded battery under that certificate. You can check any installer on the MCS installer directory. HCE is listed there for solar PV and battery storage, under certificate NAP-73495, held via NAPIT; those are the only technologies we quote for a Warm Homes Loan.
The government’s factsheet also notes that some lenders work only with particular installers, while others let you choose any MCS-certified installer. Ask your lender which applies before you ask for quotations.
Paperwork the lender and the scheme expect
The factsheet asks borrowers to keep the quotation, the finance agreement, the invoice, proof of purchase and the MCS certificate, and GOV.UK says the work may be checked as part of an audit. Practically, that means a quotation which itemises each line, so it is clear what the loan paid for and what, such as roof repairs, sat outside it.
VAT is a separate matter from the loan. Solar panels and batteries fitted to a home are zero-rated for VAT until 31 March 2027 and charged at 5% from 1 April 2027, under HMRC’s rules, so the quotation total is the figure the lender sees. Our guide to VAT on solar panels and batteries covers the edge cases.
What it costs to borrow
Rates and terms vary by lender — compare them on the GOV.UK lender list. The factsheet’s advice is to look at the total amount repayable, including how long you will be paying and any monthly fees, not just the monthly figure. The lender runs its own credit, affordability and eligibility checks; the scheme itself sets no income threshold. And one safety rule: the government and lenders never cold-call to sell Warm Homes Loans or charge a fee to apply. If someone offers to “secure” a loan for a fee, do not pay.
Sources: Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, Warm Homes Loan Scheme: Scheme Rules, v3, September 2026 (sections 4.13 to 4.20 and 4.24) and Warm Homes Loan Scheme: Factsheet (27 October 2026); GOV.UK, Warm Homes Loan Scheme guide, eligibility and lender list; MCS installer directory; HMRC, VAT on energy-saving materials and heating equipment (VAT Notice 708/6). All read 3 November 2026.