Guide
Warm Homes Loan Scheme lenders: who they are and what to compare
Warm Homes Loan Scheme loans don’t come from the government. They come from lenders on a list GOV.UK keeps. The scheme launched to consumers with the government’s factsheet of 27 October 2026, and GOV.UK keeps the list of lenders allowed to offer it.
We fit solar panels and batteries across Devon and Cornwall from our base near Okehampton. We don’t lend or recommend a lender, but every loan for solar or a battery needs an MCS installer’s quote, which is where we come in.
Where to find the lenders
Only lenders on GOV.UK’s Warm Homes Loan Scheme lender list can offer loans under the scheme, so start there and check any lender against it before you apply. We don’t name or recommend a lender. The scheme rules expect another lender window from late 2026, for onboarding in early 2027, so the list may grow.
What to compare between lenders
Each lender sets its own terms within the scheme, so the same system can cost different amounts to borrow for. Before you apply, compare:
- Rates and terms. Rates and terms vary by lender — compare them on the GOV.UK lender list.
- The total amount repayable, not only the monthly figure.
- What it will fund. Solar panels and batteries are each capped at £15,000 under the scheme. An EV charger counts only as an add-on to solar or a battery, and insulation isn’t covered.
- Its checks. There’s no income test in the scheme, but every lender runs its own credit and affordability checks and decides whether to lend.
Where the installer comes in
Whichever lender you choose, the work must be done by an MCS certified installer, and the lender will usually want the installer’s quote. We hold MCS certification for solar PV and battery storage, certificate NIC-601527.
You can ask for the quote before or while you compare lenders. We look at your roof and how you use electricity, design the system around it, and give you a written, no-obligation quote. Our page on the Warm Homes Loan Scheme for solar panels and batteries sets out the caps, who can apply and how the steps fit together.
If you already have solar panels and want to keep more of what they make, a loan can cover a battery on its own. Read about adding a battery to existing solar panels to see how one joins the system you have.
Staying safe
The government and lenders never cold-call to sell Warm Homes Loans or charge a fee to apply. Check any lender against the GOV.UK list, check any installer on the MCS register, and walk away from anyone asking for money to “unlock” a loan. Our guide to solar panel scams covers the other warning signs.
Our part
Solar Upgrades is not a Warm Homes Loan lender and does not arrange these loans. You apply to a lender on GOV.UK’s list yourself, and the lender decides on any loan. Our firm’s financial services status is set out at the foot of every page.
