Warm Homes Loan Scheme: What It Changes for UK Solar Sales
A customer can like the system, understand the numbers and still pause at the upfront cost.
For UK solar Pros, that makes the Warm Homes Loan Scheme (WHLS) worth paying attention to. The scheme gives participating lenders government support to reduce borrowing costs on eligible home energy upgrades, including solar PV and battery storage. The Government describes WHLS as a lender-led scheme, with lenders retaining control of their products and credit decisions.
But the opportunity goes beyond another finance option. It’s about giving customers a way to fund the system without sending the sale elsewhere or pulling your team into the credit decision.
WHLS gives eligible customers another finance route
WHLS is a UK Government-supported, lender-led scheme. Participating lenders remain responsible for their finance products, affordability checks and credit decisions.
For solar Pros, the main points are straightforward:
- Solar PV and battery storage can qualify for WHLS-supported finance.
- Government support can reduce borrowing costs on eligible loans.
- Participating lenders set products and make the credit decisions.
- Eligible systems require MCS-certified products and MCS-certified installers.
WHLS does not mean every customer or project will qualify. It also does not make the installer responsible for choosing a finance product for the customer. For eligible solar and battery installations, the scheme requires the relevant MCS-certified product and installer.
For Pros, that puts more focus on a familiar sales question: what happens when a customer wants the system but needs another way to pay?
Finance works best when the customer stays in control
Sending the customer away to find finance can add another hurdle. They leave the proposal, start researching lenders and have to work out how finance fits with the system, price and savings already in front of them.
Pull finance too far into the sales conversation, though, and you create a different problem. A sales rep can quickly move from explaining that finance is available to discussing which lender, product or repayment term a customer should choose.
A better model keeps finance close to the solar decision while the customer and lender stay in control of the finance decision.
That’s the role of OpenSolar Finance Marketplace.
Finance Marketplace keeps finance close to your proposal
Finance Marketplace gives customers a route from the OpenSolar proposal into a separate finance experience. They can compare available options by monthly payment, term, APR and total repayable, then continue to a lender application where available.
The roles stay distinct. The customer explores and applies. The lender handles the finance decision. Your team stays focused on the solar project.
Finance Marketplace can also bring options from multiple finance partners into one customer-led experience. As participating lenders make WHLS-supported products available, eligible customers can see those options alongside other available finance routes.
Rates, terms, eligibility and application requirements can vary by lender. For the Pro, the workflow stays familiar: finance remains connected to the proposal, the customer compares the options and the lender manages the credit decision.
See Finance Marketplace in action
UK Pros are already using this approach
UK solar businesses already use Finance Marketplace as part of their sales process.
At Power IQ, Sales Director Marc Suggars described the customer-led approach simply: “Customers explore it themselves… It isn’t really for us to advise.”
EnergyWin UK has seen value in bringing multiple finance options into one place instead of using separate systems and providers. Andrew McGann described Finance Marketplace as an important part of the company’s sales process.
Daniel Benton of National Renewable Electrical Services said Finance Marketplace has helped the business secure finance agreements and offer customers a professional finance experience.
OpenSolar’s UK Finance Marketplace also won the Solar & Storage Live UK 2026 Innovation Award.
The common thread is simple: customers can access finance during the solar buying journey without asking the installer to take on the credit decision.
Make finance part of your sales process, not the sales pitch
WHLS gives UK solar Pros another reason to look at how customers pay for solar and battery projects. You do not need to make finance the centre of the conversation. You need a practical route for the customer who wants the system but needs another way to pay.
Finance Marketplace gives you that route from the proposal. Customers can compare available options and apply themselves while your team stays focused on the system, proposal and project.
Make Finance Marketplace part of your sales process
See how to set up Finance Marketplace and make finance available from your OpenSolar proposals.
