The Government published a consultation in June 2026 on reforming the consumer protection system for home upgrades, covering microgeneration and installation measures, to support delivery of the Warm Homes Plan1. The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) opened the consultation, which closes on 10 September 20262.
The proposals include a single end-to-end consumer protection service, binding delivery agreements, a government-owned data system to identify risks earlier, and a public register of approved installers and retrofit professionals2. The consultation follows the Warm Homes Plan, published in January 2026, which commits £15 billion of public investment to support upgrades in up to five million homes, help lift up to one million households out of fuel poverty and create up to 180,000 additional jobs in energy efficiency and clean heating by 20302. The government estimates this public funding will help unlock around £38 billion of total investment2.
MCS, the certification body for small-scale renewables, said its redeveloped installer scheme already addresses most of the issues raised. Its chief executive, Ian Rippin, said:
"the consumer protection system for home upgrades, microgeneration and installation measures"
MCS said it now manages complaints centrally, has raised financial protection requirements so that remediation is guaranteed even if an installer goes out of business or refuses to carry out work, and reaches out to every recipient of an MCS certified installation to identify issues early1. Installers now sign a legal agreement with MCS, which the body says gives it authority to suspend or withdraw installers falling short on consumer protection1.
Under existing DESNZ scheme rules, installers of energy-efficiency measures must be certified to PAS 2030, installations must comply with PAS 2035, and installers must be TrustMark registered or meet equivalent requirements2. Relevant microgeneration technologies must also meet applicable MCS requirements2. Applications to the Boiler Upgrade Scheme are made through an MCS-certified installer, who applies on the property owner's behalf2.
| Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant | Amount |
|---|---|
| Air-to-water and ground-source heat pumps | £7,500 |
| Air-to-air heat pumps | £2,500 |
| Eligible biomass boilers | £5,000 |
| Off-gas-grid properties replacing oil or LPG heating, 21 July 2026 to 31 March 2027 | £9,000 towards an air-to-water or ground-source heat pump |
Source:2
Why it matters for households
Consumer protection determines what a household can do if an installation is faulty, incomplete or the installer ceases trading. The consultation proposes a single route through the complaints process rather than the current arrangement, which MCS describes as fragmented1. A public register of approved installers would give households a way to check whether a business is recognised under the scheme, and binding delivery agreements would place obligations on firms taking part2. For a household investing in insulation, solar panels, batteries or a heat pump, the practical effect is on the route to remediation and on whether financial protection survives an installer's failure1. The government has said the Warm Homes Agency, which it plans to establish, is expected to include oversight of consumer protection among its responsibilities2.
What happens next
The consultation closes on 10 September 20262. The government response to the consultation has not been reported. Separately, regulations enabling compliant plug-in solar products to be sold and used in the UK were made on 16 July 2026 and come into force on 27 August 20262. In the private rented sector in England and Wales, the government intends to require properties to meet the equivalent of EPC C by 1 October 2030, with a £10,000 cost cap and exemptions, subject to legislation2. For social housing in England, a government response published in April 2026 confirms a phased standard requiring EPC C or above against one reformed metric by 1 April 2030 and a second metric by 1 April 2039, unless an exemption applies2.
Sources2 cited
- Ian Rippin comments on the future of consumer protection for small-scale renewables - MCS, mcscertified.com
- The Warm Homes Plan | Elmhurst Energy, elmhurstenergy.co.uk