Warm Homes Loans for Solar Panels and Batteries (2026)

What Is a Warm Homes Loan?

A Warm Homes loan is a personal loan from an approved lender, such as a bank, for clean energy upgrades to your home. The government funds part of the interest, so the loan costs less than it otherwise would.

It is part of the government's Warm Homes Plan. The government says lenders taking part offer up to a 5 percentage point reduction compared with their usual rates, and some loans are interest-free. Each lender sets its own rate, term and checks, and the loan itself will say whether it is funded under the Warm Homes Loan Scheme.

It is a loan, so you repay it over the term you choose, with interest unless it is a 0% loan.

How Much Can You Borrow?

Each upgrade has its own limit, and you can borrow for more than one upgrade in the same loan.

Limits from the GOV.UK Warm Homes Loan Scheme factsheet, 27 October 2026. Heat pumps and other technologies have their own limits.

For comparison, Spark customers paid a median of £14,226 for solar panels and a battery in 2026, fully fitted at 0% VAT. See what homes paid by system size in our cost guide.

Who Can Get a Warm Homes Loan?

The government's rules are short. To be eligible:

• You own the home, with or without a mortgage.
• It's a home in the UK. Commercial properties aren't covered.
• An MCS-certified installer does the work. You can't fit it yourself.
• You pass the lender's checks. Every lender runs its own credit, affordability and eligibility checks, and some add extra rules.

There's no income limit or minimum EPC rating in the government's rules. You can't use a Warm Homes loan and other government funding to pay for the same upgrade, though you can combine it with other schemes for different upgrades.

How to Apply Through Spark

You don't apply to the government. You apply to a lender, either directly or through your installer. With Spark it works like this:

1. Get a free quote. We design a system for your roof and your electricity use, with an independently validated (EPVS) savings forecast.
2. Ask about a Warm Homes loan. We'll show you the options from Hometree Finance, Propensio, Secure Trust Bank and Tandem Bank, alongside our other ways to pay, so you can compare the total amount payable.
3. Apply with the lender. The lender runs its credit and affordability checks and confirms the rate and term.
4. We fit your system. You get your MCS certificate once it's commissioned.
5. Keep your paperwork. The government asks you to keep your quote, finance agreement, invoice, proof of purchase and MCS certificate, as some installs are checked in an audit.

Warm Homes Loan or Other Finance?

A Warm Homes loan is one option, not the only one.

Spark also offers interest-free credit over 5 years with a deposit, and longer-term finance. See the current terms on our Savings & Finance page. The right choice depends on how much you want to pay each month and in total. Before you sign, compare the total amount repayable, not only the monthly payment. A longer term lowers the monthly cost but usually means paying more interest overall.

Forecast energy savings don't guarantee that your combined monthly costs will be lower than today. Your quote shows the forecast savings and the finance costs side by side.

Staying Safe

New schemes attract cold callers and copycat offers.

• Check the lender is on the GOV.UK list of Warm Homes lenders.
• Check your installer is MCS-certified. You can search the MCS register online.
• Some loans in the scheme are secured on your home. Ask whether yours is before you sign.
• Get more than one quote, and be wary of anyone pushing you to sign on the day.

Where This Information Comes From

We checked the scheme rules on GOV.UK in November 2026.

Sources: Warm Homes Loan Scheme guide and Warm Homes Loan Scheme factsheet (27 October 2026), both GOV.UK. The scheme may change, and more lenders are expected to join. We'll update this page when it does.

Spark is a trading name of Spark Energy UK Ltd, which is an Appointed Representative of Shermin Finance Limited (FRN 727594), which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Spark Energy UK Ltd acts as a credit broker, not a lender. Warm Homes loans are provided by Hometree Finance, Propensio, Secure Trust Bank and Tandem Bank. Credit is subject to status, affordability and approval. Written details available on request.