A solar installation is not complete when the panels are fixed to the roof. This practical UK solar installation checklist helps you track the quote, installer credentials, DNO process, electrical and building considerations, commissioning tests, monitoring setup, SEG paperwork, warranties and handover documents, with checkpoints to revisit each year.
Overview
Good paperwork protects the value and usability of a solar system. It can help you confirm what was installed, prove that the work was completed correctly, support warranty claims and make future changes easier. It may also be useful when selling or remortgaging a property.
The exact requirements depend on the system design, property, location and distribution network. A standard grid-connected solar installation is not the same as an off-grid system, a battery retrofit, a commercial array or an installation that includes an EV charger. Treat this checklist as a record-keeping and decision-support tool, not a substitute for advice from a suitably qualified installer or the relevant network and building authorities.
Before work begins, create one digital folder and one backup location. Keep the quotation, drawings, certificates, correspondence and final photographs together. Record the installation date, system size, panel and inverter models, battery capacity if applicable, and the meter details. These basic records make later checks much easier.
What to track
1. The quotation and system design
Save the version of the quotation you accepted, including its date and any later amendments. Check that it identifies the main equipment and scope of work rather than describing the system only in general terms. Your records should ideally show:
- the number, make and model of panels;
- the inverter model and any battery or energy-management equipment;
- the proposed system capacity and expected layout;
- roof, wall or ground-mount arrangements, including access equipment;
- cabling routes, consumer-unit work and any scaffold or remedial work;
- monitoring, export-limiting or backup-power features included in the design;
- payment terms, exclusions, workmanship cover and the process for reporting faults.
Compare the design with your priorities. A system intended to maximise daytime self-consumption may be configured differently from one designed around battery storage, an EV charger with solar or future expansion.
2. Installer credentials and approvals
If you want to use an export tariff that requires installation certification, check whether the installer is currently registered with the relevant certification scheme and whether the proposed work falls within its scope. An MCS-certified installer may be important for the certification and documentation route associated with certain domestic renewable installations, but you should still check the company’s registration details, insurance, workmanship terms and experience with your specific system.
Ask who will carry out the electrical work and what certificates you will receive. Do not rely on a logo in a brochure alone. Record the installer’s legal trading name, contact details, registration information and the name of the person responsible for aftercare.
3. DNO notification or approval
Grid-connected generation may need to be notified to, or approved by, the local Distribution Network Operator (DNO). The route depends on factors such as the equipment, connection arrangement and proposed export. Ask the installer to explain which process applies before installation and to confirm who is responsible for submitting it.
Keep the application reference, approval or acceptance correspondence, any conditions, and the final notification evidence. If a battery is added later, do not assume the original paperwork covers it. The battery’s charging and export behaviour may need to be considered separately.
4. Building, roof and electrical considerations
Check whether the roof is suitable for the additional load and whether its condition should be addressed before panels are installed. Ask how the design deals with shading, access, cable protection, fire-safety considerations and weatherproofing. For flat roofs, confirm the mounting method, ballast or fixings and any implications for the roof membrane.
For electrical work, retain the relevant installation certificate or completion documentation, test results and details of any changes to the consumer unit. The installer should explain the location and purpose of isolators, switches and protection devices. Photograph equipment labels and cable routes before they become difficult to access.
5. Commissioning and handover
At handover, ask the installer to demonstrate normal operation and explain what the monitoring app displays. The handover pack should identify the installed equipment and include available manuals, commissioning records, test results, warranties and emergency contact details.
Record the initial readings shown by the inverter, battery and import/export meter where available. Take screenshots of the monitoring account, system name and permissions. Confirm that you—not only the installer—control the account and can recover access if the installer changes its software or ceases trading.
6. SEG registration and export records
If you plan to receive payment for exported electricity through a Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) tariff, contact potential suppliers about their eligibility, evidence and application requirements. Requirements can vary, so confirm the current process directly with the supplier rather than relying on an old checklist.
Keep the documents requested during registration, which may include proof of ownership, installation certification, meter information and generation or export details. Save the registration confirmation, tariff terms and statements. If your meter, supplier or system changes, check whether your SEG account needs updating.
7. Warranties and maintenance records
Separate product warranties from installer workmanship cover. Record the warranty period, claimant, exclusions and procedure for each major component. Keep invoices and dated photographs, since these may help establish when the equipment was installed.
Most systems need little routine intervention, but you should retain records of inspections, repairs, firmware changes and replacement parts. For practical monitoring advice, see this guide to solar panel maintenance in the UK and the guide to solar monitoring apps and performance data.
Cadence and checkpoints
Before installation
- Check the quote against the final design and your intended use of the system.
- Confirm installer credentials, insurance, workmanship cover and aftercare arrangements.
- Ask whether DNO notification or approval is required and who will complete it.
- Clarify roof condition, access, electrical work, monitoring and any future battery or EV plans.
- Agree which certificates, manuals and test records will be supplied at handover.
On installation day and at handover
- Photograph the finished array, cable routes, inverter, battery and protection equipment.
- Check that equipment models match the agreed design, or record any approved substitution.
- Obtain commissioning evidence, electrical certificates, DNO correspondence and warranty documents.
- Set up monitoring and confirm that you have account ownership and login recovery details.
- Write down the first readings and any operating limits explained by the installer.
Monthly or quarterly
Review the monitoring app for obvious gaps, error messages and unusual changes in generation, consumption, battery state of charge or export. Seasonal variation is normal, so compare similar months where possible rather than judging the system from one cloudy week. Save a periodic screenshot or export of the key data if the app allows it.
Annually
Check that your contact details, warranty records, SEG tariff information and insurance records are still accurate. Review whether household demand has changed because of an EV, heat pump, working-from-home pattern or new appliance. Confirm that the system still reflects how you use energy and that no monitoring or battery alerts are being ignored.
How to interpret changes
A lower generation figure does not automatically mean a fault. Weather, season, shading, temporary monitoring outages and changes in system settings can all affect the data. Start by checking whether the change appears in the inverter display, the app and your electricity meter, then compare it with a similar period and with the system’s original expectations.
Investigate promptly if generation falls sharply without an obvious explanation, an inverter repeatedly reports an error, a battery stops charging or discharging as expected, or the monitoring connection remains offline. Do not remove covers or work on electrical equipment yourself. Use the installer’s fault process and keep a dated record of the message, readings, photographs and correspondence.
When comparing savings, separate electricity imported from the grid, electricity generated, electricity used directly on site, battery throughput and exported electricity. A change in tariff, export rate or household usage can alter the financial result without indicating a technical problem. For planning context, you can also refer to the solar panel and battery sizing guide for UK homes.
When to revisit
Return to this checklist whenever the system or your circumstances change. The most important triggers are adding or replacing a battery, inverter or EV charger; changing the meter or electricity supplier; altering the roof; selling the property; changing the monitoring platform; or receiving a new DNO or SEG request.
Before selling, assemble a buyer-ready pack containing the accepted quote, system design, certificates, DNO evidence, warranties, manuals, monitoring details and maintenance records. Remove personal login information while explaining how ownership can be transferred. If you are changing installer, give the new contractor the equipment list, fault history and original commissioning documents.
As a final practical step, set a calendar reminder for a quarterly data check and an annual document review. Mark each item as complete, record open questions and update the folder after every repair or system change. A well-maintained record is a small task that can make solar ownership, troubleshooting and future decisions considerably simpler.
