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MCS certified installer: what it means and what is changing

Russell AndrewsPublished 13 November 20264 min read
mcs certified installer
Executive summary

Executive summary

An MCS certified installer is the standard to look for before you buy solar. Here is what it means, what is changing by 31 March 2027 and how REST UK is certified.

An MCS certified installer is a company that has been assessed to design and fit solar panels to recognised standards, and it is the certificate you usually need to be paid for surplus electricity under the Smart Export Guarantee. REST UK is MCS certified for solar PV through NAPIT, certificate NAP-31343, and you can check it yourself on the MCS find an installer page. If you would like to know what it means for your home, fill in our form and our specialist team will explain.

What an MCS certified installer means for you

MCS certification is how an installer shows they meet the scheme's standards. For you, it opens doors. It is what lets a system qualify for export payments through the Smart Export Guarantee, and schemes such as the Warm Homes Loan Scheme require an MCS-certified installer. Solar panels and batteries are separate technologies on the MCS record, so always check the one you want.

At REST UK: every solar PV installation is surveyed, designed and fitted by our own team across England and Wales, and we issue your MCS certificate and electrical documents after the work. Our certificate number and TrustMark number (1870015) are on our TrustMark page.

What is changing with MCS

According to MCS's own announcement on 18 June 2026, the redeveloped MCS installer scheme is live and the first installers have moved across. By 31 March 2027, all MCS certified installers must be operating under it. MCS describes three changes that matter to homeowners:

  • Complaints are managed centrally. Complaints handling moves to MCS.
  • Financial protection is strengthened.
  • MCS contacts customers. MCS will contact every recipient of an MCS-certified installation.

At REST UK: our specialist team can tell you where we are in the move and what it means for your quote. Fill in the form, or ask our chatbot on the contact page, and we will answer in writing.

Five checks before you choose an MCS installer

These checks work for any company, and we are happy to be held to them.

  1. Look them up on the MCS website. Search the company name and check your technology is listed against it.

    At REST UK: search for us as Renewable Energy Services Team Ltd. Our certificate NAP-31343 is listed for solar PV.

  2. Ask which scheme they are certified under. The move runs until 31 March 2027, so installers are at different stages today.

    At REST UK: ask us. Our specialist team will explain our position and put it in writing.

  3. Ask what protects your deposit. Our guide to HIES consumer protection explains the documents to look for.

    At REST UK: we use HIES as our protection route, and our TrustMark page names it as our dispute resolution provider.

  4. Get an itemised written quote. It should list the equipment, warranties and what is included. Our questions to ask a solar installer covers the rest.

    At REST UK: every quote we give is written and itemised, so you can compare it line by line.

  5. Keep your paperwork. The MCS certificate, electrical certificate and warranty documents belong together.

    At REST UK: we hand these over after your installation, and our team can help if you ever need a copy.

If you are using a loan, our five installer checks for the Warm Homes Loan apply the same ideas to finance.

Timing your system around 31 March 2027

The MCS deadline is not the only date in that week. The 0% VAT rate on home solar and battery installations is also scheduled to end on 31 March 2027, as we explain in our solar VAT deadline guide. If you are thinking about a system this winter, an early survey gives you time to compare quotes and choose calmly.

At REST UK: our specialist team can tell you what timing looks like for your home. Fill in the form and we will come back with a direct answer.

Why homeowners choose REST UK

We are an MCS certified installer for solar PV, with our own team doing every survey, design and installation across England and Wales. You get a written quote, our certification details are public, and REST UK is rated 4.3/5 on Trustpilot from more than 721 reviews. Ask us anything on the form, or use the chatbot on our contact page.

This guide summarises MCS's published announcement and is not legal advice. Dates were checked on 5 November 2026 and can change.

Questions about this topic

What does MCS certified installer mean?

It means the company has been assessed against the MCS scheme's standards for designing and installing the technology listed against its name. You can check any installer on the MCS website, and REST UK is listed for solar PV.

Is REST UK an MCS certified installer?

Yes. REST UK, registered as Renewable Energy Services Team Ltd, is MCS certified for solar PV through NAPIT, certificate NAP-31343. Our specialist team can answer questions about the redeveloped scheme if you fill in our form.

Do I need to do anything if I already have solar panels?

No action is needed to keep your system running. MCS has said it will contact every recipient of an MCS-certified installation, so keep your certificate safe. If you cannot find it, ask the installer who fitted your system.

Where do I check whether an installer is MCS certified?

Use the find an installer page on the MCS website. Search the company name and check that the technology you are buying, such as solar PV or battery storage, is listed against it.

Technical accuracy

Sources reviewed

This article was prepared using live source research. Rules, tariffs and product details can change, so the original sources are listed below.

REST editorial standard

Clear guidance, checked against current sources.

Prepared by Russell Andrews at REST UK. Product, finance and regulatory information should always be confirmed for your property and circumstances.

Russell Andrews
Written by

Russell Andrews

Russell has been part of the REST team since 2019, working across media buying, digital marketing and content writing for the business at various points over the years. He's the person most likely to be found rewriting a page for the third time because the wording still isn't quite right. Before and alongside REST, Russell has written for a number of other UK brands, including several in kitchenware and home improvement, generally covering the kind of practical, decision-driving content people actually search for rather than what's easiest to write. He's currently trying to get better at golf, with a handicap that's technically unknown and almost certainly still a work in progress. When he's not on a course somewhere in Kent, he's usually reading up on whatever REST or the wider solar industry is doing next.

More about Russell
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