What Happens to My Plug-in Solar When I Move House?

One of the genuine advantages of plug-in solar over a traditional rooftop system is portability. When you move house, you don't have to leave £8,000 of panels behind. You can take them with you.

But "portable" doesn't mean "just unplug it and go." There are some practical steps to do properly, and a few traps to avoid.

What You Can Take

If you own your plug-in solar kit outright — which is the normal situation — it's your property and you can remove it. That means:

• Solar panels
• Micro-inverter(s)
• Mounting brackets and hardware
• Monitoring gateway (DTU)
• Any cabling and connectors

The only thing that stays behind is the smart plug or monitoring device if it was hardwired, though plug-in monitoring devices like the Tapo P110 unplug trivially.

What You Leave Behind

The G98 registration — your DNO notification is property-specific. It records that a plug-in solar system is installed at your address. When you move out, that registration doesn't transfer with you. The new owners may benefit from knowing it's registered, but you can't take it to your new address.

Any SEG export tariff contract — if you've signed up to a Smart Export Guarantee tariff with your energy supplier, this is tied to your current address and metering. It won't follow you. You'll need to apply again at your new property.

What to Do When You Move Out

1. Remove the system carefully — unplug the AC cable from the wall socket first, then disconnect the DC cables from the micro-inverter (not from the panels — panels under light can still carry voltage). Work in low-light conditions or cover the panels before disconnecting.

2. Notify your DNO — this isn't a legal requirement when decommissioning, but it's good practice to inform your DNO that the G98-registered system has been removed. You can do this by calling or emailing your network operator.

3. Tell your estate agent — if the system was mounted visibly (balcony, garden, wall), make sure your estate agent knows you're removing it. If it's improved the property's kerb appeal, removing it before viewings isn't ideal. Some sellers choose to leave a system behind as part of the sale — discuss this with your solicitor.

4. Cancel or transfer your SEG contract — contact your energy supplier to close or pause your export tariff arrangement before you switch address.

What to Do When You Arrive

1. Check the new property's circuit — before reinstalling, verify the socket you're planning to use is on a ring main with a Type A RCD (see our RCD guide). In an unfamiliar property, it's worth getting an electrician to check if you're unsure.

2. Assess the placement — your old south-facing balcony position may not exist at the new property. Take time to assess orientation, shading, and the best mounting location before committing to brackets in walls.

3. Submit a new G98 notification — this is required at the new address. The G98 process is straightforward (fill in the form, submit to your new DNO, receive acknowledgement within a few days). See our G98 guide for the step-by-step.

4. Check compatibility — if the new property has a different socket arrangement or your planned cable run is longer, you may need a longer MC4 extension cable. Renogy MC4 cables are available in various lengths.

5. Set up a new SEG contract — once you have the G98 confirmation for the new address, you can apply for SEG with your new supplier. If you're on a time-of-use tariff like Octopus Agile, you may also want to reassess whether it's still the right tariff for your new location and consumption pattern.

Is It Worth Taking the Panels?

For most people: yes, absolutely. A £600 kit is worth the effort of a careful removal and reinstallation. The main cost is your time and any new mounting hardware if the new property has a different configuration.

The calculation changes if your new property has significantly better solar conditions — in which case an upgrade might be worthwhile anyway. If you're moving from a north-facing flat to a south-facing house with garden space, a larger or better-positioned system might actually be worth buying new, and the old kit becomes a garage/workshop installation or a resale item.

What About the New Owners?

If you're leaving the panels behind as part of the sale, put the following in writing for the buyers:

• The kit model and any manuals or warranty documents
• The G98 notification reference number and the DNO it was submitted to
• The monitoring app login details (or confirm how to set up their own account)
• Any maintenance history or notes on the installation

This is both good practice and a potential selling point. A working plug-in solar system registered with the DNO is a small but genuine added value for an energy-conscious buyer.

For everything else you need to know about compliance and paperwork, see our complete guide.