Who Offers a Free Solar Survey London: What to Expect

A free solar survey can save you thousands of pounds before you commit to anything, but not every "free survey" means the same thing. Some companies send a person to your roof with a ladder and a tape measure. Others run the whole check from a laptop using satellite images. Knowing who offers a free solar installation London survey homeowners can actually rely on, and what that survey should cover, helps you avoid a rushed sales pitch dressed up as expert advice.

London roofs bring their own quirks: terraced houses with shared walls, chimneys that throw shade at odd angles, and conservation areas with planning restrictions. A proper survey accounts for all of that before you see a single number on a quote.

This piece looks at the installers and suppliers running free surveys across London right now, plus the checks that separate a thorough survey from a fifteen-minute form-fill.

London Providers Offering Free Solar Surveys

When planning Solar Installations London homeowners have plenty of choice, ranging from small local installers to national energy suppliers with their own solar arms. The main differences come down to how local the team is, whether they visit in person, and how they handle your data before quoting.

MCS-Certified Local Solar Installers

Local MCS-certified installers tend to know London roofs and planning rules better than national call centres. For successful Solar Installations London properties require certified specialists, as MCS accreditation is required for most incentives and finance schemes.

Several London-based firms offer free surveys as standard. Sol4r Energy runs a free solar survey and quote service with MCS-NAPIT and ISO 9001 certification, and installs everything in-house rather than subcontracting. Solar Panels London offers MCS-certified installation with a free home survey and handles G99 DNO applications for you, which is the paperwork needed to connect a system to the grid legally.

Ignis Solar provides a free home solar survey covering roof assessment, shading analysis and energy review, with an online booking process the company says takes under a minute. London Solar, a smaller outfit, offers free surveys, designs and quotes alongside a five-year installation guarantee.

National Energy Suppliers and Solar Specialists

National suppliers bring scale and brand recognition, though the survey itself is often outsourced to a regional partner. OVO Energy runs a free solar panel survey booking service where a dedicated solar expert contacts you to talk through your options.

Spara Energy promises contact within 24 hours of booking a free, no-obligation survey. Evolo offers a free home survey with an incentive: the first 25 people to book in a postcode area get a £25 John Lewis voucher once they receive a quote.

Redwood Renewables covers London through a dedicated page offering a free solar survey and consultation by phone. Greenscape Energy visits homes and businesses directly for a free site survey rather than relying on remote assessment alone.

Remote vs. In-Person Survey Providers

Remote surveys use satellite data and software; in-person surveys send someone to your roof. Both are free, but they answer different questions at different stages of your decision.

Remote, or "desktop", surveys work well as a first filter. Smart Solar UK's free desktop survey uses satellite imagery to check roof angle, size, shading and orientation without a home visit. Solar Bureau offers a similar free remote survey, and Install Solar runs a free online solar survey that gathers property and energy details to assess roof suitability and battery options.

Solar Surveys Ltd goes further with a 60-second structural pre-check that flags whether your roof is even a candidate for solar, before any deeper survey happens.

In-person surveys catch things a satellite image misses: loft access, consumer unit condition, roof timber quality, and exact shading from next door's extension. Electric Car Chargers UK's free solar and battery survey covers generation potential, cost and savings for homes and businesses before you commit. Suryam Tech Solar describes its process as a 30-minute visit that decides your system design, which gives a realistic sense of how long a proper in-person check takes.

Survey Type	Method	Typical Turnaround	Best For
Remote/Desktop	Satellite data, software	Minutes to same day	Quick feasibility check
In-Person	Home visit, physical inspection	24-48 hours to book, 30-60 min visit	Final quote and system design

For most London homes, a remote check is a good starting point, but an in-person visit should happen before you sign anything.

What a Free Survey Should Include

A proper free solar survey checks your roof, your energy use, storage options, and installer credentials. For lasting Solar Installations London homeowners must avoid gaps that could result in unexpected costs or an underperforming system.

A solar survey is formally defined as a professional assessment confirming a property is viable, safe and cost-effective for solar, covering roof condition, orientation, shading, electrical infrastructure and energy usage. Site surveys have become more important as installation numbers climb: UK solar installations hit 257,397 in 2025, up 32% on 2024, according to MCS figures cited in industry reporting. Every one of those jobs should have started with a proper survey rather than a desktop guess.

Roof Orientation, Pitch, Condition, and Shading Checks

Your roof's orientation, angle and shading determine how much power your panels generate, so a survey must measure all three properly. South-facing roofs generate the most, but east- and west-facing roofs still work well in most London postcodes.

A thorough survey checks pitch (the steepness of your roof), the condition of the tiles or slates underneath, and shading from chimneys, trees or neighbouring buildings at different times of day. Reonic's guide notes that a site survey is the on-site inspection carried out before a system is designed or quoted, checking structural capacity alongside roof condition.

Skipping this step risks a system sized for a roof that can't actually support it, or panels placed where a chimney shadow cuts output for half the afternoon.

Usage Review and Tailored System Design

Your electricity usage pattern shapes what size system makes sense, so a good survey asks for your bills before recommending anything. A household running appliances mostly in the evening needs a different setup than one home all day with the heating on.

London Solar Experts includes a tailored solar assessment covering roof suitability, estimated annual savings and system size recommendation as standard. Egensys frames this step as the point where a free quote and home survey turns into a real, usable recommendation rather than a generic estimate.

A system sized without checking your usage habits often ends up too big or too small for what you actually need.

Battery Storage, EV Charger, and Smart Export Guarantee Advice

Battery storage and EV charging should come up in the same conversation as the panels themselves, not as an afterthought. Install Solar's remote survey process explicitly assesses battery options alongside roof suitability and quotation needs.

A good surveyor also explains the Smart Export Guarantee (SEG), the scheme that pays you for electricity you export back to the grid. Rates vary by supplier, so ask your surveyor which SEG tariffs they can connect you to and what rate applies.

If you're planning to buy an electric car in the next few years, mention it during the survey. Sizing your system and battery with EV charging in mind now avoids a costly upgrade later.

For businesses considering renewable energy, explore our guide to solar panels for business London and discover how commercial solar could support your energy goals.

Quotes, Accreditation, Warranties, and Finance Checks

Every free survey should end with a written quote that names the accreditation, warranty terms and finance options on offer, not just a headline price. MCS certification should be confirmed in writing, since it's required for SEG eligibility and most reputable finance products.

Check the warranty length on both panels and installation labour, and ask whether it's backed by the manufacturer or just the installer. Solar Panels London, for example, combines a free survey with finance options and replies within one working day, giving you a clear paper trail from first contact to quote.

Adding solar can also raise your home's Energy Performance Certificate rating, which some studies link to increased property value. Ask your surveyor to confirm this applies to your specific property type before treating it as a given saving.

Conclusion

A free solar survey in London should never feel like a rushed sales call. Whether you start with a remote satellite check or book an installer straight to your door, the survey needs to cover roof condition, shading, your actual energy usage, and options for battery storage and EV charging.

When investing in Solar Installations London residents should compare multiple MCS-certified installers and national suppliers before deciding. Check the accreditation, warranty terms and finance details in writing, and make sure whoever surveys your roof gives you a tailored plan.