Solar Panel Installation in Horley

Most Horley homes fall somewhere between £5,000 and £9,500 for a 3kW to 5kW system, with larger 6kW-plus systems for bigger households typically costing £9,000 to £12,000 or more. The final price depends on the number of panels, the equipment chosen, roof complexity and whether scaffolding needs special arrangements. Residential solar installations currently benefit from 0% VAT. Adding a battery usually costs a further £3,000 to £6,000. We give every customer a fixed, itemised quotation after a free survey, so there are no surprises once work begins.

A typical Horley household with a 4kW system could expect to save somewhere in the region of £500 to £700 a year, although your own figure will depend on how much electricity you use, how much of your solar generation you use at home, and your tariff. Households where someone works from home, or that charge an electric car during the day, tend to use more of their generation directly and save more. Adding battery storage can push savings higher by reducing the electricity you need to buy in the evening.

For most houses in Horley, no. Roof-mounted solar panels on a home are usually permitted development, provided they do not project more than 0.2 metres from the roof surface or sit higher than the highest part of the roof. Different rules apply if your property is listed, or if it is in one of Horley’s conservation areas at Church Road, Massetts Road or Meath Green, where you should also check the position of any wall-mounted equipment. Some newer estates may have planning conditions that affect permitted development rights. We check all of this during the survey and advise you before you commit.

For a normal home solar system, Gatwick is very unlikely to be an issue. Gatwick Airport Ltd is a statutory consultee on certain planning applications within its safeguarding zones and may ask developers to submit a glint and glare assessment, and Civil Aviation Authority guidance focuses on larger solar energy developments on or near aerodromes. That process is generally relevant to large ground-mounted or commercial arrays that need planning permission, rather than domestic roof panels installed under permitted development. Modern panels also use anti-reflective glass. If you are planning a larger commercial or ground-mounted system near the airport, we will flag the safeguarding position at the outset.

Yes. Many homes at Westvale Park and The Acres are well suited to solar, with modern roof structures and simple, unobstructed roof slopes. Some newer homes already have a small number of panels fitted by the developer, and we can assess whether it makes sense to extend or replace that system. It is worth checking your property’s planning history, any covenants and any management company requirements, and if you are still within a new-build warranty period we can help you understand what the provider may need. We cover these points as part of our survey.

The “20% rule” is an informal rule of thumb rather than an official standard, and people use it in different ways. The most common version suggests sizing a solar system to produce around 20% more electricity than you currently use, to allow for future increases such as an electric car or heat pump and for lower output in darker months. In the UK, the right system size is better worked out from your actual consumption data, your roof space and whether you plan to add a battery. We use your real bills and usage patterns during the survey to recommend a sensible size.

Not necessarily. Many buyers see an owned, professionally installed solar system as a benefit because it means lower running costs. Problems tend to arise when panels were fitted under a “rent-a-roof” lease, where a third party owns the system and some mortgage lenders may raise questions. When you buy your system outright from us, you own it, and we provide the MCS certificate, electrical certificates, warranty documents and grid notification paperwork that buyers, surveyors and conveyancers will typically ask to see.

In most cases, yes. Parts of Horley near the River Mole, the Gatwick Stream and the Burstow Stream fall within Environment Agency flood warning areas, so it is sensible to think about where equipment is placed. Panels on the roof are unaffected, but batteries and inverters are usually wall-mounted, and we can often position them higher up, in a loft or on an upper floor, depending on the product and manufacturer requirements. We will talk through the options during your survey so the system is installed in the most appropriate location for your home.

The majority of domestic installations in Horley are completed in one day. Larger systems, more complex roofs or projects that include battery storage at the same time may take up to two days. Scaffolding is normally put up shortly before installation day and removed soon after, and we coordinate all of this for you.

The Smart Export Guarantee requires larger energy suppliers to pay you for surplus electricity your solar panels send to the grid. Each supplier sets its own export rate per kWh, and rates vary widely, so it pays to compare tariffs. To register, you need an export-capable smart meter and an MCS certificate for your installation, which we provide. SEG income is a useful extra, but the biggest savings usually come from using your own solar electricity at home.

Yes. If you would rather start with panels and add storage later, we can design your system so a battery can be added without major changes. Some Horley customers choose to see how much surplus electricity they export over the first year before deciding on battery size, which can help ensure the battery is right for their household.

Booking is simple. Call us on 01273 455 695 or send us an enquiry online and we will arrange a convenient time to visit your Horley home. We will assess your roof and electricity use, explain the options and follow up with a personalised, no-obligation quote at no cost to you.