Russell Andrews
A lower-rate loan can make solar easier to fund. Choosing your Warm Homes Loan installer still matters: the design, savings figures and aftercare will shape what you get from that investment. Before you commit, here are five checks to make and the evidence we will show you at REST.
Current MCS certification for the technology
The lender checks installer eligibility and verifies the completed installation through the scheme process. Certification must cover the technology being installed, and you can check any installer on the MCS website.
At REST UK: our MCS certificate number is NAP-31343, certified through NAPIT for solar PV and battery storage. Check our MCS record and the technology it lists, and see our TrustMark registration. Our MCS standards page explains how we work.
A regulated broker or lender
Lending and credit broking are regulated, so both the lender and whoever arranges the finance should appear on the FCA register. Ask how the broker is paid, and expect a clear answer.
At REST UK: we are an FCA-authorised credit broker and not a lender. Look up Renewable Energy Services Team Ltd, FRN 824643 on the register. We introduce you to our lending partners, we may receive commission, and we explain this before you apply.
Figures that have been independently checked
A good quote shows its assumptions, labels estimates as estimates and says who has checked them. The scheme's own guidance says savings cannot be guaranteed.
At REST UK: every savings estimate follows the EPVS calculation and is checked and cleared before the installation goes ahead. We explain the assumptions behind your figures. Estimates remain forecasts, not guaranteed savings. Read how EPVS validation works.
A clear match between the agreed work and the finance
The equipment, eligible costs and customer contribution should be consistent across your installation quote and finance paperwork. You should be able to see what is being installed, what the loan covers and what you are paying separately. If the design changes, the figures need to be updated before proceeding.
At REST UK: we price each measure separately and go through the quote and the finance figures with you before you sign, so the equipment, eligible costs, any contribution from you and the amount borrowed all reconcile.
Protections in writing
Ask what protects your deposit and your installation, in documents you can keep.
At REST UK: we use HIES, which is our chosen protection route and our named dispute resolution provider on our TrustMark page. For an eligible installation, we confirm the registration and provide the protection documents, and you can read how HIES deposit and stage-payment protection works.
How a guided application works
We help you gather the information needed for the finance available through our lending partners and explain the next steps. Your lender makes the lending decision. We remain your contact for system design, installation and handover.
What we give you in writing
The timing matters, so here is what to expect and when.
Before you commit:
- An itemised quote that prices each measure separately, with equipment details and warranty terms.
- The applicable finance information, the name of the lender and how we are paid as the broker.
- Any upfront contribution, and our certification details.
- An explanation of the protection arrangements.
After registration, and before you rely on deposit protection:
- The HIES written confirmation and protection documents for an eligible installation.
After completion:
- The applicable installation and MCS certificate, and electrical documentation.
- The relevant network records.
- Operating and monitoring instructions.
- Warranty registrations, and workmanship or insurance documents where they apply.
Not every document arrives at the same moment, and we tell you when to expect each one.
Why we explain it this way
Choosing an installer for a loan-funded system is a bigger decision than choosing a product. These checks work for any installer, and we would rather you made them than took our word for it. Our guide to HIES consumer protection explains the documents to look for, and our questions to ask a solar installer goes through the rest of the conversation. New to the scheme? Start with our Warm Homes Loan Scheme guide.
REST UK is rated 4.2/5 on Trustpilot from 768 reviews, and installs across England and Wales.
Finance is subject to status and lender approval. REST UK is a credit broker, not a lender (FCA 824643), and introduces customers to its lending partners. We do not give mortgage or whole-market financial advice. We may receive commission from the lender for introducing finance. Rates and terms are set by the lender and may change.