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Manchester Balcony Solar
Check my balcony

Balconies and buildings where plug-in solar can't be fitted

The government's specification for plug-in solar names a short list of places a kit must never go. If none of them is you, the next question is permission.

Checked 4 November 2026

The short list

  • Timber balconies
  • Timber, ACM, MCM or HPL cladding
  • Buildings having wall remediation
  • Walls on a property boundary
  • Cable ties, rope or straps

Timber balconies

A balcony with a timber floor, timber decking or timber railings can't have a plug-in kit. That applies whoever owns the flat, and whatever the lease says.

In England, the planning rules also keep solar equipment off timber balconies.

Buildings with certain cladding

Plug-in solar can't go on a building with timber cladding, aluminium composite material (ACM), metal composite material (MCM) or high-pressure laminate (HPL) cladding.

Not sure what's on your building? Your managing agent or freeholder should know. If the external walls have been assessed, you may have come across an EWS1 form when buying or remortgaging.

Buildings having wall remediation

If the outside walls are having, or waiting for, remediation work, plug-in solar is out until the work is finished.

Since 2017, many blocks across Manchester and Salford have had their external walls checked, and some have needed work. It's worth asking before you do anything else.

Walls on a property boundary

A kit can't be fixed to a wall that forms a boundary between properties, such as a wall shared with a neighbouring flat's balcony. That matters most for wall kits.

Fixings that never count

Cable ties, rope and straps are never allowed. Use only the brackets that came with the kit, because they're part of what was registered.

If you're not sure

Ask your managing agent, freeholder or landlord in writing, and keep the answer. Then run the check with what you've found out.

Check my balcony

Sources