How Your Flat Roof Can Make Most Of Tax Break

Daniel Bracewell • 19 April 2022

There was much debate and no little criticism surrounding the Chancellor’s Spring Statement in March amid the cost of living crisis, but there was one measure that could undoubtedly be of great interest to those planning a flat roof extension.

Until the statement, anyone planning to install micro-renewables in or on their home would have to pay a VAT rate of five per cent. But Mr Sunak announced that this will now be completely free of VAT altogether.

This move has naturally been welcomed by the renewable sector and it covers items like insulation, heat pumps and solar photovoltaic panels. The first two would, of course, be something installed in walls or under the floor, but the chance to install solar power devices on a flat roof at a lower cost will be welcomed by many.

Renewable energy firm MCS was among those to express delight at the news. Chief executive officer Ian Rippin said it was a “positive step to make green energy cheaper and more accessible to consumers”.

He added that it will “make solar PV even more accessible and will allow consumers to take advantage of the multiple benefits of solar, including reduced energy bills and enhancing the value of a property”.

Mr Rippin said it also made the undertaking easier for firms installing solar panels, as they could carry out the procurement element of the process without having to tackle the “complex” rules on VAT.

The key to being able to install photovoltaic panels is to have a roof that is robust enough to take their weight and, just as importantly, is located in the right position to capture the best of the sun, rather than being blocked off by obstacles such as nearby walls, trees or other buildings.

So, if you can establish a flat roof extension in the right place to catch the solar rays, it could be a case of fixing the roof before the sun shines!

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Can You Install Solar Panels On A Flat Roof?

by Daniel Bracewell • 10 December 2025

If you’re exploring how to lower your energy bills and reduce your carbon footprint, you may be looking at the likes of solar panels for your home. But what if your property has a flat roof rather than a pitched roof? Can you still install solar panels on a flat roof? The short answer is yes, you can! In fact, it is often easier to install solar panels on a flat roof than it is to fit them to a sloped roof, which might make this an even more appealing avenue to explore when you’re looking at flat roof ideas . In many cases, you also don’t need planning permission to install solar panels on your flat roof. Of course, there are exceptions if you have a listed building or live in a conservation area, but if you own your house (different rules apply for flats too), you should be free to add solar panels to your home as you choose. There are different kinds of mounting systems for flat roof solar panels and which is most appropriate for your home will depend on the direction it faces. It is worth noting that the cost of installing solar panels is often higher on flat roofs because of the mounting system, but some of this can be offset by the lower labour costs because the installation process is usually more straightforward. One of the main reasons homeowners install solar panels is to reduce their energy bills. Many report savings of hundreds of pounds each year, which means these panels often pay for themselves relatively quickly. What’s more, under the Smart Export Guarantee , you can sell any energy you don’t use back to the National Grid, which can increase the rate at which your investment in solar panels pays for itself. So, if you are exploring ways to make the most of your flat roof, consider solar panels as an option to reduce your energy bills and do good for the environment.