DIY plug-in solar
Plug it in, no consumer unit, no MCS paperwork.
A panel and inverter that connects via a normal wall socket rather than being wired into your fuseboard. The practical entry point for renters, flat-dwellers and anyone without roof access or the budget for a full install. From £499.
What's included
Everything needed to plug in and go: panel, micro-inverter, mounting hardware for a fence, balcony or garden frame, and the cable run to your socket. We only fit one of the confirmed compliant kits, currently seven models on the market, all from UKSOL, kept within the 800VA-per-property legal cap.
DNO registration
Plug-in solar became legal UK-wide on 27 August 2026, but it still carries a legal duty: notify UK Power Networks Southern within 28 days of installing, via myplugin.solar or directly. We file that registration for you as part of the job.
Where it works
South or west-facing balconies and fences across Broadstairs and St Peter's, including flats and rented properties where a rooftop install isn't an option. No listed building consent needed since nothing attaches to the building's roof or walls in most cases, though we check your specific property before quoting.
Current legal status
What changed on 27 August 2026
Now legal, not just tolerated
An amendment to the 1994 Plugs and Sockets etc. (Safety) Regulations made plug-in solar legal UK-wide from 27 August 2026, for compliant kits up to 800VA. That's a hard limit per property, not per socket or room.
Compliant kits only
Cheaper uncertified kits exist online but sit outside the legal framework and can invalidate your home insurance. As of early September 2026 only seven kits are confirmed compliant, all from UKSOL, we only fit those.
No export income yet
Smart Export Guarantee payments still require MCS certification, which plug-in kits can't get. A simplified SEG route for plug-in systems is expected around 2027, not before, so budget for zero export income in the meantime.
Be realistic
What plug-in solar won't do
It won't power a whole house, it offsets daytime baseline consumption, kettle, fridge, standby devices, on a sunny day. Renting or leasehold? There's no statutory right to install: get written permission from your landlord, freeholder or managing agent before you buy. If you want export income, whole-home battery backup, or EV charger integration, that's the MCS route.
FAQs
Do I need planning permission for a plug-in kit?
Usually no if it's fence, balcony rail or freestanding garden-mounted and doesn't attach to the building's roof or a wall fronting the highway. If your property is one of Broadstairs' 139 listed buildings, or in its conservation area, tell us before you buy and we'll confirm.
Can I add a battery to a plug-in setup?
Not as a straightforward plug-and-play addition. Pairing a battery with a plug-in kit needs a qualified electrician to sign off the connection under the current rules; a simplified DIY battery route isn't expected until 2027.
How long does installation take?
Most plug-in installs are a half-day job: mounting, cabling and the socket connection. We handle the 28-day DNO registration afterwards.
Can I buy any plug-in solar kit, or does it have to be a specific one?
It has to be a confirmed compliant kit. As of early September 2026 that means one of seven UKSOL products tested against the government's plug-in solar product specification. Buying an uncertified kit to save money takes the install outside the legal framework and can invalidate your home insurance.