What changed in 2026
Two things happened in rapid succession. First, the Renters' Rights Act 2025 came into force, giving tenants the right to request consent for improvements, including energy-related ones, and requiring landlords to provide written reasons if they refuse. An unreasonable refusal can be contested.
Second, the UK standards picture has moved in 2026. DESNZ confirmed the legalisation of plug-in solar via a written ministerial statement on 15 March 2026, and BS 7671:2018 + Amendment 4:2026, the IET Wiring Regulations published 15 April 2026, updates Section 712 to authorise plug-in via a standard plug for kits meeting the forthcoming BSI plug-in solar product standard, up to 800W AC peak. BS 1363-1:2023 still governs UK 13A plugs and sockets for general use; A4 carves an exception for BSI-certified plug-in solar. The BSI plug-in solar product standard is expected to publish in July 2026 and is what makes the plug-in route practically usable.
Until BSI publishes and the first kit is certified, the practical install for buyers today is still a CPS-registered electrician with a hardwired connection, typically £250 to £450. Renters can still benefit, the install is portable in the sense that the panels and kit can be removed when you leave, with the electrician disconnecting and making good.
What counts as "portable"
A portable system, for the purposes of both the Renters' Rights Act and plug-in solar installation, is one that:
- Can be removed without leaving permanent marks or structural damage
- Does not require penetrating the building fabric (drilling through walls, fixing into masonry)
- Uses existing electrical infrastructure (the standard socket you already have)
- Can be taken with you when you move
Most EcoFlow STREAM kits qualify. The panels mount on a freestanding ground stand or balcony rail brackets (clamp-style, no drilling), and the microinverter connects to the panels. A CPS-registered electrician then hardwires the system into the consumer unit (the compliant UK route in 2026), and disconnects it when you leave so you can take the panels and kit with you.
Approaching your landlord
You are not legally required to ask your landlord before installing a genuinely portable system that leaves no marks. In practice, however, a brief conversation prevents disputes and builds goodwill, especially if the system will be visible from outside the property or from shared spaces.
A reasonable approach:
Write a short request email
Describe the system, confirm it requires no drilling or permanent fixings, note that you'll remove it when you leave. Keep it factual and include the product name so they can look it up.
Reference the Renters' Rights Act
You don't need to be confrontational. A brief mention that you're making a formal improvement request under the 2025 Act, and that it qualifies as a portable energy improvement, establishes the legal context.
Give them 28 days
Under the Act, landlords have 28 days to respond. If they refuse, they must provide written reasons. An unreasonable refusal (no structural impact, no damage, no cost to them) is contestable.
Proceed with installation
Once you have consent (or after a reasonable period with no response to a portable-system request), order your kit. A CPS-registered electrician should handle the final connection until the BSI plug-in solar product standard publishes (expected July 2026) and the first kit is certified, after which the BS 7671 A4 plug-in route becomes available.
Mounting without drilling
The practical challenge for renters is often physical: where do the panels go? Several no-drill solutions work well in UK rental properties.
Balcony rail clamps are the simplest. EcoFlow's mounting brackets wrap around standard balcony railings (round, square, or flat profile) with tightening bolts. No holes, no marks, and they work on most metal and concrete balconies. The panels sit slightly above horizontal, which reduces output by around 10 to 15% compared to an optimally tilted installation. Still genuinely worth it.
Freestanding ground frames sit on a patio or garden surface with a weighted base. They can hold one or two panels at the correct tilt angle. If you have outdoor access, this gives near-optimal performance, and the frame picks up and moves when you do.
Roof terrace or flat roof. Some renters have access to roof terraces. Weighted frames work well here. Wind is a consideration: check that the frame manufacturer's weight specification is suitable for exposed positions.
Window sill installations (rare, and limited in output). For ground-floor or basement flats, some renters use small panels (200 to 400W) angled on external window sills. Output is significantly reduced, but the principle works for east or west aspects with morning or afternoon sun.
What you'll actually save
Savings depend on three things: how much sun your panels receive, when you're home to use the electricity, and your current electricity rate. At the April 2026 Ofgem price cap rate of approximately 26p/kWh:
| City | Annual generation (800W, south-facing) | Estimated annual saving | Approx payback (£749 all-in) |
|---|---|---|---|
| London | ~653 kWh | ~£170 | 4.4 years |
| Bristol | ~694 kWh | ~£180 | 4.2 years |
| Birmingham | ~619 kWh | ~£161 | 4.7 years |
| Manchester | ~572 kWh | ~£149 | 5.0 years |
| Leeds | ~581 kWh | ~£151 | 5.0 years |
| Edinburgh | ~530 kWh | ~£138 | 5.4 years |
These figures assume a south-facing installation at 35° tilt using PVGIS irradiance data. East or west-facing installations produce approximately 20% less; north-facing approximately 40% less. The self-consumption rate (how much generated power you actually use directly, rather than export) is assumed at 85% for a home-worker.
When you move
The system comes with you. Disconnect the plug cable, remove the microinverter, unmount the panels from their brackets (or lift the ground frame), and pack everything. The EcoFlow STREAM kit fits in its original packaging and can be reinstalled in a new property within an afternoon.
You will need to re-notify your new DNO region within 28 days of reconnecting. It is a short online form. See our G98 / DNO notification guide for step-by-step instructions.
Frequently asked questions
- No, but they must provide written reasons for refusal under the Renters' Rights Act 2025, and those reasons must be reasonable. A refusal on the grounds of 'it might damage the property' is harder to sustain for a system with no permanent fixings. If refused unreasonably, you can challenge through the First-tier Tribunal.
- Not yet, but the regulatory route is in place. BS 7671 Amendment 4 (published 15 April 2026) authorises plug-in via a standard plug for kits meeting the forthcoming BSI plug-in solar product standard. Until BSI publishes (expected July 2026) and the first kit is certified, no certified product yet exists. Until then, the practical install for renters is a CPS-registered electrician with a hardwired connection. You can mount the panels and connect them to the microinverter yourself.
- Potentially. A plug-in solar system improves the property's energy profile, which could marginally improve the EPC rating, something landlords are under increasing regulatory pressure to do. This is a reasonable point to mention in your request.
- Not if the installation leaves no marks or damage. Document the property with photos before and after installation. When you leave, take the system with you and ensure the socket and any surface areas are in the same condition as before.
- A north-facing 800W system will generate roughly 60% of what a south-facing system produces, around £100–£110/year rather than £170. It is still positive, just with a longer payback period of around 7 years. East or west-facing is better, at around 80% of south-facing output.
Ready to start?
Browse the kits available now, or read the complete UK guide if you want the full regulatory picture first.