How do I check if an installer is MCS-certified?

Visit mcscertified.com, click 'Find an Installer', and search by company name or postcode. It is free and instant. If the company does not appear, they are not MCS-certified.

Can I install solar without MCS?

Technically yes, but you lose: SEG payments, government scheme eligibility, quality guarantee, and Part P self-certification. Non-MCS installation costs you £2,000-£7,500 in lost SEG over 25 years. Always use MCS.

What if my installer loses MCS certification?

Your existing installation certificate remains valid — it was certified at the time of installation. Future warranty claims may be complicated if the installer is no longer certified. Choose established, financially stable MCS companies.

Is MCS the same across the UK?

Yes — MCS is a UK-wide scheme covering England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. The same standards apply everywhere. Scottish Building Standards differ from Part P but MCS compliance handles this.

Home Solar Guide

MCS Installer Register: How to Check

By Home Solar Guide Team|Updated 18 March 2026|guide

Independently written | Evidence-based | Sources cited

MCS-certified installer — verify at mcscertified.com — Always verify MCS certification before signing — it takes 30 seconds at mcscertified.com.

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How do I check if a solar installer is MCS-certified?

The MCS Installer Register at mcscertified.com is the official UK database of certified solar installers. Search by company name, postcode, or certificate number — free and instant. Every solar installer you consider MUST be on this register. Without MCS certification: no SEG payments, no government scheme eligibility, no quality guarantee, and potentially unsafe installation. Verify before signing any contract.

How to Check the Register

Three ways to verify:

Visit mcscertified.com → 'Find an Installer' → search by company name
Search by your postcode to find all MCS-certified installers near you
Enter the installer's MCS certificate number (they should provide this on request)

What the register shows: - Company name and address - MCS certificate number and status (active/suspended/withdrawn) - Technologies certified for (Solar PV, heat pumps, etc.) - Date of certification

If an installer is NOT on the register: Do not use them. Either they are not certified (bad) or their certification has been suspended/withdrawn (worse). Ask them to explain — if they cannot provide a valid certificate number, walk away.

Source: mcscertified.com.

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All legitimate UK installations are MCS-certified — Every one of the UK's 1.3 million solar installations was done by an MCS-certified installer.

Why MCS Matters

No SEG payments without MCS — losing £80-£300/year for 25 years = £2,000-£7,500
No ECO4/BUS grant eligibility without MCS
No guarantee of safe, competent installation
No Part P self-certification (you need separate building control)
No quality assurance or complaints procedure
Property sale complications — buyers want MCS documentation

MCS protects your 25-year investment — MCS certification protects your investment — SEG income alone is worth £2,000-£7,500 over 25 years.

Frequently Asked Questions

Related: Home Heating Systems

Solar panels are most powerful when combined with an efficient heating system. Heat pumps use solar-generated electricity to heat your home at 300-400% efficiency — making them the ideal partner for solar.

heat pump installation process

Heat pump installation typically takes 2-3 days and is best planned alongside solar.

From our sister site Home Heat Pump Guide