Heat Pump or Solar Battery Not Performing? Your Rights When Green Tech Underperforms (UK)

Green tech is sold on big promises — lower bills, a warmer home, energy independence. When a heat pump cannot heat your house or a solar battery delivers a fraction of the savings you were told, you have rights against the installer and, often, the finance behind it.

What you were promised matters

Under the Consumer Rights Act 2015, the system and installation must be of satisfactory quality, fit for purpose, and as described. If a salesperson promised specific savings, performance, or that it would heat your home adequately, that becomes part of what you were sold — and falling well short is a breach.

Common problems

• A heat pump undersized or badly installed so it cannot heat the home or runs costs sky-high.
• A solar battery or panel system generating or saving far less than projected.
• Mis-sold finance — unaffordable payments, or "it pays for itself" claims that never materialise.
• Poor workmanship, leaks, noise, or safety issues.

Your routes to a remedy

1. Require the installer to fix it (repair or rework), or claim a price reduction / rejection if they cannot.
2. If it was financed (loan, PCP-style agreement), claim against the finance provider too — they are jointly responsible, and you can escalate to the Financial Ombudsman.
3. Check certification — MCS-certified installs and consumer-code membership (RECC/HIES) give extra free dispute routes and insurance-backed guarantees.
4. Section 75 applies if you paid a deposit over £100 by credit card.

A complaint letter template

Dear [Installer / Finance provider],

Re: [Heat pump / solar battery] installed on [date] — complaint

The system is not performing as sold: [it cannot adequately heat my home / it
generates/saves far below the [figure] I was promised / the finance was
unaffordable and mis-sold]. Under the Consumer Rights Act 2015 it must be fit for
purpose and as described.

Please [rectify the installation / reduce the price / unwind the agreement] within
[reasonable period]. If finance was involved, this complaint also goes to the
lender, and I will escalate to the Financial Ombudsman / RECC if unresolved.

Yours faithfully,
[Your name and contact details]

Keep the sales paperwork and any performance promises — they are central to the claim. Between the Consumer Rights Act, the finance link, and the green-tech consumer codes, underperforming systems are very often put right or refunded.