Green Mortgages and Solar Panel Finance
Fund your solar panels, heat pump or home energy improvements through your mortgage and get rewarded for it
Your Home, Your Green Future, Our Mission
WHAT IS A GREEN MORTGAGE?
A green mortgage is a mortgage product or additional borrowing facility designed to help homeowners fund energy-efficient improvements to their property. Rather than taking out a personal loan or paying upfront, you borrow through your mortgage at a reduced or zero percent interest rate, or you receive cashback after completing qualifying energy improvements.
Green mortgages have grown rapidly in recent years. Customers could only access four green mortgage products in 2019. By 2026 there are now more than 90 on offer according to the Green Finance Institute. The biggest lenders in the UK now offer meaningful financial incentives for homeowners who want to go greener, and as your mortgage broker we make sure you are getting every penny you are entitled to.
The improvements that typically qualify include solar panels and battery storage, air source heat pumps, loft and cavity wall insulation, double or triple glazing, electric car charging points, and energy-efficient boilers.
Not sure where to start? Use our Green Mortgage Calculator further down this page to see exactly what your improvements could cost added to your mortgage, what you could save on your energy bills, and which lender deals you qualify for.
OUR RECOMMENDED RENEWABLES INSTALLER
Getting the finance right is only half the picture. You also need a trusted, qualified installer to carry out the work.
We work closely with Lee and the team at AMP Renewables, a North East based renewables company specialising in solar panels, battery storage, air source heat pumps, and EV chargers. AMP Renewables are MCS certified, which means their installations meet the standards required to qualify for lender cashback schemes including the Halifax Green Living Reward, and to claim government grants like the Boiler Upgrade Scheme. Using an MCS certified installer is not just recommended, it is a requirement for most lender incentives.
Between us we can take you from initial idea to completed installation. The finance arranged through The Mortgage Dog, the works carried out by AMP Renewables. A joined-up service that makes the whole thing as straightforward as possible.
WHY CONSIDER SOLAR PANELS?
Solar panels are one of the most popular energy improvements homeowners are making right now, and with good reason. They reduce your electricity bills, protect you against rising energy prices, can increase your property value, and now come with significant financial incentives from several major lenders.
Installing solar panels on a typical three-bedroom home in the North East can reduce electricity bills by between £600 and £1,000 per year depending on usage and system size. When you combine that saving with the lender cashback or interest-free borrowing now available, the numbers start to look very compelling.
VAT on solar panels and battery storage is currently zero percent, confirmed until 31 March 2027, which further reduces the upfront cost. And if you are a Halifax or Nationwide mortgage customer there are specific deals available right now that could save you thousands.
If you are looking for a trusted local installer, our recommended partner AMP Renewables covers the North East and can provide a free quote alongside your finance consultation.
HALIFAX GREEN LIVING REWARD
If you have a Halifax mortgage, or are remortgaging to Halifax, you could be entitled to significant cashback for making energy-efficient improvements to your home.
Halifax offers tiered cashback rewards for their mortgage customers:
Up to £2,000 cashback for installing an air source heat pump through an approved installer.
Up to £1,000 cashback for solar panels or battery storage systems installed by a certified installer.
Up to £500 cashback for other qualifying improvements including biomass boilers, solar thermal heating, A-rated glazing, cavity wall insulation, and roof insulation.
Up to £250 cashback for buying a home with an EPC rating of A or B.
Who qualifies for the Halifax Green Living Reward?
You must have received a mortgage illustration after 31 July 2024, whether for a purchase, remortgage, product transfer, or further advance. You must complete an eligible home improvement within one year of completing your Halifax mortgage or new deal. You must be a residential customer as the offer excludes buy-to-let. You must have a Halifax or Bank of Scotland current account.
This offer is available through mortgage brokers like The Mortgage Dog. In 2025 alone Halifax paid out over £2 million in cashback to customers, with £1 million delivered through intermediaries. It is a genuine, well-established scheme that our clients have already benefited from.
If you are due to remortgage soon, or are thinking about taking additional borrowing to fund solar panels or a heat pump, it is worth talking to us about whether switching to or staying with Halifax makes sense for your situation. We will compare the whole market and factor in the cashback value when working out the true cost of each deal.
NATIONWIDE 0% GREEN ADDITIONAL BORROWING
If you are an existing Nationwide mortgage customer, you could borrow between £5,000 and £20,000 at zero percent interest to fund energy-efficient home improvements.
Nationwide's Green Additional Borrowing mortgage lets you choose from a 2 or 5 year fixed rate at 0% interest for the initial period. You can borrow £5,000 to £20,000 depending on your circumstances, up to 90% of the property value with no product fees. The entire loan must be used on qualifying energy improvements.
To put that into real terms: a £10,000 loan over a 5 year fixed term at 0% would cost just £166.67 per month with no interest whatsoever. That is interest-free borrowing for solar panels, a heat pump, new windows, or insulation spread over five years with no fees attached.
What can the Nationwide 0% borrowing be used for?
Qualifying improvements include solar panels, air source heat pumps, cavity wall insulation, loft insulation, double or triple glazing, electric car charging points, and energy-efficient boilers.
Who qualifies for Nationwide's Green Additional Borrowing?
You must have a Nationwide mortgage and must have made your first mortgage payment. The term of the additional borrowing cannot be longer than the remaining term of your existing mortgage. The improvements cannot make the property uninhabitable during installation. The product cannot be used for structural updates or to reimburse works already completed.
Nationwide expanded the scheme in March 2026 and doubled the number of customers who can access it, now supporting 10,000 households with interest-free loans for energy-efficient home improvements.
If you are a Nationwide customer and are thinking about solar panels or any other qualifying energy improvement, we can help you understand whether you are eligible and how to apply. We can also check whether the terms of your existing Nationwide mortgage make this the best route for you, or whether there is a better option available elsewhere.
*The Halifax and Nationwide sections are based on current verified deal information as of April 2026.
OTHER LENDER GREEN MORTGAGE DEALS
Halifax and Nationwide are not the only lenders offering green incentives. Here is a summary of what else is currently available:
Barclays Greener Home Reward offers up to £1,000 cashback for existing residential mortgage customers who make qualifying energy improvements through an MCS-certified installer. No additional borrowing from Barclays is required to qualify.
Lloyds Bank Eco Home Reward mirrors the Halifax scheme closely, offering up to £2,000 for heat pumps, up to £1,000 for solar or battery systems, and up to £500 for other upgrades. A Club Lloyds current account must be held at the time of claiming.
Santander has offered up to £500 cashback for existing mortgage customers who take out additional borrowing to fund energy improvements. Check directly with Santander for current availability as terms change periodically.
We keep track of all current green mortgage offers across the market. If you are due to remortgage or are thinking about energy improvements, we will make sure you know about every incentive available to you before you commit to anything.
FUNDING SOLAR PANELS THROUGH YOUR MORTGAGE
There are several ways to fund solar panels through your mortgage depending on your lender and circumstances:
Additional borrowing on your existing mortgage. If you have sufficient equity in your home you can borrow more against your mortgage to fund solar panels. Interest rates on additional borrowing are typically lower than personal loans. If your lender is Nationwide that additional borrowing could be at zero percent interest.
Remortgaging and releasing equity. If your current mortgage deal is coming to an end, remortgaging to a new lender or deal and borrowing slightly more to cover the cost of solar panels is a common and cost-effective approach. If you remortgage to Halifax and have a Halifax current account you could receive up to £1,000 cashback on top.
Further advance. A further advance is additional borrowing from your existing lender on top of your current mortgage. It keeps things simple as you stay with the same lender, though the rate may differ from your main mortgage rate.
We will compare all the options available to you and recommend the most cost-effective route based on your current mortgage, your equity position, and which lender incentives you are eligible for. Use our Green Mortgage Calculator to get an idea of the costs before you speak to us.
Use our calculator to see exactly what your chosen improvements will cost added to your mortgage, what you could save on energy bills each month, and which Halifax or Nationwide deals you are eligible for.
Green Mortgage Calculator
See your improvement costs, energy savings, and Halifax & Nationwide deals at a glance
Step 1 — Your Property
Enter your details to calculate loan to value and check deal eligibility
Step 2 — Choose Your Improvements
Tap each improvement to add it. Costs are typical estimates — AMP Renewables can provide a free exact quote.
📊 Monthly Cost Breakdown
🏦 Your Lender Deals
Based on your selected lender and improvements
📋 Your Summary
🌱 Not sure where to start?
Book a free consultation with The Mortgage Dog. We will look at your mortgage, your equity, and which deals you qualify for — then point you in the right direction.
Would you like a free, no-obligation installation quote from AMP Renewables at the same time?
Your enquiry goes to The Mortgage Dog. If you selected an AMP Renewables quote, the AMP team will also be in touch.
HOW MUCH COULD YOU SAVE?
Here is an example of how the numbers could work for a Nationwide customer funding solar panels:
A typical solar panel installation for a three-bedroom home costs between £5,000 and £8,000. Borrowed at zero percent over five years through Nationwide's Green Additional Borrowing, a £6,000 loan would cost £100 per month with no interest. If that installation then reduces your electricity bills by £700 per year, your monthly energy saving of £58 broadly offsets the monthly repayment from the start, and once the loan is repaid five years later you keep the full saving with nothing left to pay.
For a Halifax customer adding solar panels funded through additional borrowing or a remortgage, the £1,000 cashback from the Green Living Reward reduces your effective cost to £5,000 before you even factor in the ongoing energy saving.
These are illustrative examples only and your actual figures will depend on your circumstances, property, and the current deals available. Use our calculator above to run the numbers for your own situation, or book a free consultation and we will work through it with you.
HOW IT WORKS
Step 1. Book Your Free Consultation
Call us, email us, or book online. We will discuss your current mortgage, your equity position, which lender you are with, and what improvements you are considering. If you want an installation quote at the same time, we will connect you with Lee at AMP Renewables.
Step 2. We Compare the Market
We compare deals across the whole market and assess which green mortgage incentives you are eligible for. We will tell you the most cost-effective way to fund your improvements based on your specific situation.
Step 3. We Sort the Finance
We handle the mortgage application, whether that is additional borrowing, a further advance, or a full remortgage. We manage the process from start to finish.
Step 4. AMP Renewables Complete the Installation
Once the finance is in place, Lee and the team at AMP Renewables carry out the installation to MCS certified standards, making sure you qualify for every cashback payment and grant available.
READY TO GET STARTED?
Whether you are a Halifax or Nationwide customer looking to take advantage of their green deals, or you simply want to find the most cost-effective way to fund solar panels or energy improvements, The Mortgage Dog can help.
We will look at your current mortgage, your equity position, which lender incentives you are eligible for, and recommend the best route for your specific situation. And if you need an installation quote, Lee at AMP Renewables is on hand to give you a free no-obligation quote at the same time.
STILL NOT SURE?
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use my mortgage to pay for solar panels?
Yes. The most common routes are additional borrowing on your existing mortgage, a further advance from your current lender, or releasing equity when you remortgage. If you are a Nationwide customer you may be eligible for zero percent interest additional borrowing of up to £20,000 specifically for energy improvements including solar panels. We can advise on the best route for your situation. Use our Green Mortgage Calculator to see the costs.
Does installing solar panels affect my mortgage?
In most cases no. Solar panels are considered a home improvement and do not affect your mortgage terms. They can increase your property value and improve your EPC rating, both of which are positive factors for future remortgaging. Some lenders ask that solar panels installed under a rent-a-roof scheme or PPA arrangement are flagged at application, so it is always worth mentioning if this applies to you.
Can I get a green mortgage as a first time buyer?
Yes. Halifax offers £250 cashback to customers buying a home with an EPC rating of A or B. If you are buying a new build or an energy-efficient property we will make sure you are on the right product to maximise any incentives available.
What EPC rating do I need for a green mortgage?
It depends on the product. Some green mortgages require an existing EPC rating of A or B on the property. Others like the Halifax Green Living Reward and Nationwide Green Additional Borrowing are focused on the improvements you make rather than the property's existing rating. We will check the specific criteria for any product we recommend.
Is the Nationwide Green Additional Borrowing available through a broker?
Yes. The 0% Green Additional Borrowing is available via Nationwide's mortgage advisers as well as brokers. We can discuss your eligibility and help you understand whether it is the right option before you apply.
What happens to the Nationwide 0% rate when the fixed period ends?
Your 0% interest rate stops when the fixed deal period ends. Any outstanding amount automatically moves onto Nationwide's variable Standard Mortgage Rate which is currently 6.49%. You may be able to switch to another rate at that point subject to availability and eligibility. We will make sure you understand the full cost over the whole term before you commit, not just the initial zero percent period.
Can I combine lender cashback with government grants?
Yes. You can claim both a bank cashback reward and the government's Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant of £7,500 for a heat pump at the same time. Combined with Halifax's £2,000 cashback that is potentially £9,500 towards the cost of a heat pump before you have even started looking at the finance. We will make sure you know about every grant and incentive available to you.
How do I make sure my installer qualifies for lender cashback?
Your installer must be MCS certified for most lender cashback schemes. Our recommended partner AMP Renewables are fully MCS certified, meaning all their installations qualify for Halifax and Nationwide cashback schemes and government grants.
WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY
We have built our reputation on five-star Google reviews from real clients across the North East and the whole of the UK.
"Kieley went above and beyond to secure a deal for me in under a month, exceeding all of my expectations. She was incredibly responsive, handled all my queries quickly, and even helped me switch products near completion to secure a better rate. I highly recommend Kieley as a broker—she’s a real credit to The Mortgage Dog. I’ll definitely be returning to them for my next renewal." Laura Greenfield
YOUR HOME MAY BE REPOSSESSED IF YOU DO NOT KEEP UP REPAYMENTS ON YOUR MORTGAGE.
There may be a fee for arranging a mortgage and the precise amount will depend on your circumstances. This will typically be between £299-£699.
The Mortgage Dog Ltd (FCA Number 788976) is an Appointed Representative of Stonebridge Mortgage Solutions Ltd, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. The Mortgage Dog Ltd. is registered in England and Wales under company number 12306191 at the registered address 41a Spout Lane, Washington, NE38 7HP. Not all Buy to Let Mortgages are regulated by The Financial Conduct Authority
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