Can Tenants Benefit From Solar Panels In The UK?

Solar panels are usually installed by homeowners, but that doesn’t mean tenants can’t benefit from them. If a rental property already has solar panels installed, the electricity they generate can power the home and reduce the amount of energy that needs to be bought from the grid.

In this article, we explore how solar power works in rental homes and how tenants can make the most of the energy generated on-site.

Power your home with Upvolt’s smart solar solutions.

Key Takeaways

• Tenants can benefit from solar panels when the rental property already has a solar system installed.
• Solar electricity used during the day can reduce the amount of grid energy tenants pay for.
• Billing arrangements vary depending on the landlord, energy supplier, and property setup.
• Tenants can also encourage landlords to consider solar by highlighting long-term energy savings and property value benefits.

Can Renters Use Solar Power At Home?

Many tenants assume solar energy is only available to homeowners, but that’s not always the case. If your rental property has solar panels installed, you may already be benefiting from lower electricity costs without needing to install anything yourself.

Solar panels generate free electricity during daylight hours. When your home uses that energy directly, it reduces the amount of electricity you need to buy from the grid. Over time, this can make a noticeable difference to your energy bills.

Understanding how solar works in a rental property helps you make the most of the energy available to you.

How Solar Electricity Is Used In Rental Homes

In most homes with solar panels, electricity is used in three main ways.

The exact setup depends on the solar system installed and whether battery storage is included.

Tenant Access To Solar Energy

How much benefit you receive from solar panels often depends on your rental agreement.

In some rental properties, tenants simply use the electricity generated by the system during the day. In others, landlords may include solar energy as part of the property’s energy arrangement.

Reviewing your tenancy agreement or discussing the setup with your landlord can clarify how solar power fits into your household energy use.

When tenants understand how the system works, they can adjust their energy habits to maximise the benefits.

How Solar Panels Can Reduce Tenant Energy Bills

Solar panels lower electricity bills by reducing how much power your home needs to import from the grid. Because solar systems generate electricity during daylight hours, households that use energy during the day tend to see the greatest savings.

Even small adjustments in when you use electricity can increase the amount of solar power your home uses.

Using Solar Electricity During The Day

Solar panels generate the most electricity during daylight hours, which makes daytime the best time to run energy-intensive appliances.

Simple changes can help you take full advantage of solar power:

• Run washing machines or dishwashers during the day
• Charge devices or electric vehicles during daylight hours
• Use high-energy appliances while solar generation is strongest

These habits allow more of your home’s energy demand to be covered by solar power instead of grid electricity.

Reducing Grid Electricity Use

When your home uses solar electricity first, you rely less on grid energy. This directly reduces electricity costs and lowers your household’s carbon footprint.

To maximise the benefit:

• Choose energy-efficient appliances
• Shift energy usage to daylight hours where possible
• Use stored solar energy if the system includes a battery

Small behavioural changes can significantly increase the amount of solar electricity used in the home.

Potential Energy Savings

Savings from solar panels in rental homes vary depending on system size, household energy use, and how much electricity is consumed during daylight hours.

On average, tenants may save over £300 per year on electricity costs.

While the exact savings depend on usage patterns, tenants who actively use electricity during the day typically benefit the most.

How Electricity Billing Works With Solar In Rental Homes

If you rent a property with solar panels, your electricity bills may work slightly differently than in a standard home.

Understanding how this works helps tenants make the most of the solar power available to them.

Standard Utility Billing

In most rental properties with solar panels, tenants still receive their electricity bills from their normal utility provider.

Your electricity meter records the amount of grid electricity your home imports. When solar panels are generating power, and your home uses it immediately, less electricity is drawn from the grid, which means your meter records lower consumption.

Your energy tariff also plays a role in how much you pay. Tenants on standard variable tariffs often pay higher unit rates than those on fixed tariffs, so reviewing your energy plan with your provider can sometimes lead to additional savings.

Smart Meter Considerations

Smart meters can make solar billing much easier to understand.

These meters track electricity flowing both into and out of the property, giving a clearer picture of how much power your home imports from the grid and when solar energy is being used.

This data helps tenants see when their household consumes the most electricity and adjust their usage to take better advantage of solar generation.

However, installing or activating a smart meter in a rental property may require coordination with the landlord or property manager. In many cases, tenants need permission before the installation can take place.

Shared Energy Arrangements

In some rental developments, particularly social housing or large apartment buildings, solar electricity may be shared between multiple tenants.

In these setups, the solar energy generated by the building is distributed across several households. This allows more tenants to benefit from renewable energy, even if the panels are installed on a shared roof.

Because multiple households are involved, billing can become slightly more complex. The energy savings need to be divided fairly between tenants based on usage or predetermined arrangements.

If you live in a property with shared solar energy, your landlord or property manager should explain how the system works and how it affects your electricity bills.

Can Tenants Request Solar Panels From Landlords?

Tenants can’t usually install solar panels themselves, but they can start the conversation with their landlord about adding them to the property. In many cases, solar upgrades can benefit both sides.

When discussing solar panels with your landlord, it helps to highlight the practical advantages:

• Lower energy bills for tenants: Solar panels generate electricity during the day, reducing reliance on grid power and lowering household energy costs.
• Increased property value: Homes with renewable energy systems can be more attractive to future tenants and buyers.
• Improved property energy efficiency: Solar panels help improve a property's energy performance, which can support higher EPC ratings and sustainability goals.
• Greater appeal to future renters: Many renters actively look for homes with lower running costs and environmentally friendly features.
• Long-term investment for landlords: Solar panels can generate electricity for decades, potentially increasing rental demand and long-term property value.

How To Approach The Conversation

If you're interested in solar for your rental property, consider:

• researching local solar incentives or grants
• exploring solar financing options that spread the cost of installation over time
• showing how solar can improve the property's energy efficiency
• explaining how lower energy costs can make the property more attractive to tenants

A positive discussion about solar energy can lead to upgrades that benefit both landlords and tenants, lowering bills, improving sustainability, and increasing property value over time.

How Upvolt Helps Homes Share Solar Benefits More Effectively

Solar panels on a rental property can generate significant electricity, but tenants benefit most when that energy is used and managed effectively inside the home. Upvolt designs integrated solar systems that help households make better use of the electricity their panels produce while improving transparency around how solar energy is used.

By combining system monitoring, battery storage, and smart energy controls, Upvolt helps ensure that solar generation translates into real, visible benefits for the people living in the property.

Skygate® System Monitoring

Skygate® gives homeowners and property managers real-time visibility into how their solar system performs.

Through an easy-to-use monitoring platform, households can see:

• how much electricity their solar panels are generating
• how much energy the home is consuming
• when power is being imported from or exported to the grid

This visibility helps households adjust their energy habits to make better use of solar generation.

For rental properties, monitoring can also support clearer understanding of how tenants benefit from solar electricity, especially when daytime energy use aligns with solar production.

Battery Storage for Greater Self-Use

Solar panels generate the most electricity during the day, while household energy demand often increases in the evening when people return home. Battery storage helps bridge this gap.

Upvolt integrates lithium iron phosphate battery systems that store excess solar energy produced during the day so it can be used later when the sun isn’t shining.

By shifting solar electricity into the evening hours, battery storage increases the amount of solar energy used inside the property. This can make it easier for tenants to benefit from solar generation, particularly in homes where most electricity consumption happens after work hours.

The result is greater self-use of solar energy and reduced reliance on grid electricity.

Key benefits of battery storage include:

For rental properties, battery storage can also help ensure more of the solar electricity generated on-site is used within the property, increasing the potential benefits for tenants.

EV Charger Integration

Upvolt integrates solar-optimised EV charging systems that allow electric vehicles to charge directly from solar generation whenever possible. This helps households use more renewable electricity produced on-site instead of relying solely on grid power.

By aligning EV charging with solar production, properties can make better use of daytime solar generation. In rental homes where tenants own electric vehicles, this setup can allow charging to draw from solar energy when available, helping reduce electricity costs while increasing the value of the solar installation.

Let’s Recap

Tenants in the UK can still benefit from solar power even if they don’t own the property they live in. When a rental home has solar panels installed, the electricity generated during daylight hours can power household appliances and reduce reliance on grid electricity. This can lead to noticeable savings on energy bills, particularly for tenants who use electricity during the day.

The exact benefit depends on how the system is configured and what arrangements exist with the landlord or property manager. In some properties, tenants simply use solar electricity directly, while in others the energy may be shared between multiple households or combined with battery storage systems.

Tenants who understand how solar electricity works in their home can adjust their energy habits to maximise savings. For those interested in expanding solar access, discussing potential installations with landlords can also open the door to energy upgrades that benefit both parties.

About Upvolt

Upvolt designs and installs integrated solar energy systems that help homes generate, store, and use renewable electricity more effectively. By combining high-performance solar panels with intelligent monitoring, battery storage, and energy management technology, Upvolt helps households maximise the value of the energy their systems produce.

If you're exploring solar for your home or rental property, fill out our short online form to see how a tailored solar system could work for your property.

FAQ

Do tenants benefit from solar panels?

Tenants can benefit from solar panels when they are installed on the rental property. Solar panels generate electricity during daylight hours, which can power appliances and reduce the amount of electricity the home needs to import from the grid. When tenants use electricity while the panels are generating power, it can help lower their energy bills.

Can landlords get grants for solar panels?

In the UK, there are limited direct grants for solar panels, but landlords may still benefit from certain incentives and schemes. These can include local authority funding programmes, energy efficiency schemes, or the Smart Export Guarantee (SEG), which allows property owners to receive payments for surplus electricity exported back to the grid. Availability varies depending on the region and property type.

What financing options are available for solar panels?

Landlords and homeowners can install solar panels through several financing options. These may include paying upfront, taking out a solar loan, or using solar leasing or power purchase agreements (PPAs) where installation costs are spread over time. The best option depends on the property owner’s financial goals and how they plan to use the electricity generated.

Can tenants install solar panels themselves?

In most cases, tenants cannot install solar panels themselves because the installation requires changes to the property structure and roof. Permission from the landlord or property owner is required before any solar system can be installed.

Do tenants pay for electricity generated by solar panels?

Usually, tenants only pay for the electricity they import from the grid through their energy supplier. When solar panels generate electricity, and it is used directly in the home, it can reduce the amount of electricity that needs to be purchased from the grid, which can lower the overall energy bill.

Alex Lomax

CEO & Co-Founder

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