Straight answers, as of 3 November 2026
Solar panel and battery questions, answered for West Yorkshire
22 questions people in Leeds, Wakefield, Bradford, Huddersfield and Halifax actually ask, with real numbers. Not here? Call 07442 511817 and ask a person.
4 questions
Cost and VAT
How much do solar panels cost in Leeds?
Every system we book is quoted in writing after a free survey, because scaffolding, roof access, the consumer unit and the battery size all move the price. A typical semi takes about 3.5 kW; a detached house about 4 kW. The quote is fixed, with 0% VAT already off until 31 March 2027.
Why is there no price list on the site?
Because a price on a website is either a guess or a package. We would rather give you a fixed figure for your roof after someone has stood in your loft than a from-price that grows on the day. The calculator on the homepage shows what a system should save; the survey tells you what it costs.
When does 0% VAT end and what replaces it?
0% VAT on solar panels and home batteries ends on 31 March 2027. From 1 April 2027 the rate is 5%, confirmed in the Budget on 28 October 2026. The rate follows the invoice date, so the job needs installing and invoicing before the deadline (as of 3 November 2026).
Does a deposit lock in the 0% rate?
No. A deposit is taxed at the rate on the day it is paid, for that amount only. The balance invoiced after 31 March 2027 is at 5%. Installed and invoiced before the deadline is the only way the whole job stays at 0%.
4 questions
Batteries
Is it worth adding a battery to solar panels I already have?
Usually, if the house is empty in the day. A 3.5 kW system exporting about 1,500 kWh a year earns around £120 at 8p; using those units at home instead of buying them at 26.32p is worth about £395. The battery keeps the difference, every year.
What size battery do I need?
Most homes start at 5 kWh, which carries a typical evening of lights, cooking, TV and the router. An EV, a heat pump or a big family usually justifies 10 kWh or more. The survey reads your bills and sizes it to your evenings.
Will a battery keep the lights on in a power cut?
Only if it is installed with backup circuits, which has to be decided and wired at installation. Tell us at the survey if it matters to you; it changes the design and the price, and not every battery supports it.
Can a battery work without solar panels?
Yes. A battery on its own charges overnight on a cheap off-peak tariff and runs the house through the evening peak at the full rate. The saving is smaller than with solar but real, and it suits a flat or a shaded roof. It is zero-rated for VAT until 31 March 2027 like everything else.
4 questions
Your roof and planning
Does my roof face the right way?
South is best, east and west are fine and often better for a working household because the panels make power in the morning and evening when you are home. North-facing roofs are usually a no. We do not ask you to guess the orientation; the survey measures it.
Do I need planning permission in West Yorkshire?
Usually not. Roof-mounted solar on a house is permitted development in England if the panels sit within 200 mm of the roof surface and the house is not listed. Conservation areas such as parts of Headingley, Roundhay, Saltaire, Holmfirth and the Calder Valley have extra rules for roofs facing the street. We check before the survey, not after.
Will panels work on a stone slate roof?
Yes. Stone and Welsh slate roofs are common from Huddersfield to Halifax and take panels with the right fixings, which the installer specifies at the survey. Older stone slate needs a careful look at the battens and the roof structure first, which is part of the survey.
Does solar work in winter here?
Yes, just less. A 3.5 kW system in West Yorkshire makes about 2,678 kWh a year, with roughly three-quarters between April and September. Winter days still cover lights, the fridge and the router; a battery on an off-peak tariff carries the evenings.
3 questions
Grants
Is there a grant for solar panels in Leeds?
Not for most homes. Every home gets 0% VAT until 31 March 2027 and the Smart Export Guarantee. Lower-income households with an EPC of D to G can apply to the council for the Warm Homes: Local Grant: Leeds City Council has £5.96 million, Bradford Council £6.33 million, Wakefield Council £1.5 million and Calderdale Council £3.2 million; Kirklees is not on the GOV.UK list. Checked 3 November 2026.
Who qualifies for the Warm Homes: Local Grant?
Owner-occupiers and private tenants in England with a household income of £36,000 or less, or on a means-tested benefit, or in a council-selected postcode, in a home with an EPC of D to G. Councils appoint their own installers, so it is not something we quote for; if you look eligible we say so and point you to the council.
What is the Smart Export Guarantee?
A payment from your supplier for every unit you export, typically a few pence to 15p. You need an MCS certificate to claim it, which every system we book comes with. The calculator assumes 8p. With a battery you export less and keep more, which is normally the better deal.
4 questions
The survey and installation
What happens after I send the form?
We call back within one working day, usually the same working day, to check your roof, your bills and the best time for a survey. A local MCS-certified installer then visits, measures up and sends a fixed written quote. No obligation at any point. If you would rather talk first, call 07442 511817.
Who installs the system?
A local MCS-certified installer we work with in West Yorkshire. Solar Stash takes the enquiry and books the survey; the installer surveys, quotes and fits. Your quote names the installing company and its MCS number, and the MCS certificate is issued on completion.
How long does installation take?
Usually one day, two with a battery and a new consumer unit. Scaffolding goes up a day or two before and comes down a few days after. From accepting the quote to switch-on is typically a few weeks, longer in the busy months before the VAT deadline.
Who do I call if something goes wrong later?
Solar Stash on 07442 511817. The installer carries the workmanship warranty and the manufacturers carry the equipment warranties, registered in your name at handover. We chase the installer for you.
3 questions
Our area
Which areas do you cover?
Leeds, Wakefield, Bradford, Huddersfield, Halifax and the towns between: every LS, WF, BD, HD and HX postcode, from an office on King Street in Leeds. Harrogate, York, Skipton, Barnsley and Selby are just outside and worth a call. Put your postcode into the form for an instant answer.
Are you based in Leeds?
Yes. Solar Stash is at 27 King Street, Leeds, LS1 2HL, and the installers we book are local to West Yorkshire. We are not a national call centre.
Can I see a page for my town?
Yes: Leeds (including Pudsey, Horsforth, Morley, Garforth, Wetherby and Otley), Wakefield, Bradford, Huddersfield and Halifax each have a page with the local council, grant status, housing notes and conservation areas.
More detail on each service: solar panels and a battery, a battery for existing solar, the VAT deadline and how it works.
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