The 14-day cooling-off period applies to most energy-saving products sold at your door
If a salesperson knocks on your door and you sign a contract for solar panels, insulation, or a heat pump, you are not locked in immediately. Under UK law, you have a legal right to change your mind within a set period.
You have 14 days to cancel most energy-saving contracts signed at your door in the UK. This right covers solar panels, heat pumps and insulation under the Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013. Check your contract terms to confirm the trader has not excluded it unlawfully.
- 14-day cooling-off period applies to doorstep energy contracts
- Cancel in writing within 14 calendar days without giving a reason
- Exemptions include urgent repairs and bespoke products
- Clock starts the day after you receive written contract or goods
- Keep proof of cancellation such as email read receipt
- The 14-day cooling-off period applies to most energy-saving products sold at your door
- What doorstep cooling-off rules cover – and what they do not
- How to cancel a doorstep contract for an energy-saving product
- Quick numbers – key cooling-off facts in one table
- The direct answer to “doorstep cooling off uk” – what you must know
- How to verify a doorstep trader and your cancellation rights before you sign
- What happens if the trader ignores your cooling-off rights
The Consumer Contracts (Information, Cancellation and Additional Charges) Regulations 2013 give you a 14-day cooling-off period for any contract signed in your home. The clock starts the day after you receive the written contract or the goods, whichever is later (GOV.UK, 2026).
This means if a trader visits your home, whether you invited them or they arrived unannounced, you have two weeks to cancel without giving a reason. The right applies to nearly all energy-saving home improvements sold door-to-door in 2026.
What doorstep cooling-off rules cover – and what they do not
The cooling-off right covers any agreement signed during a visit by a trader to your home, including verbal contracts where you agreed to a purchase. It applies to solar panels, heat pumps, insulation, double glazing, and most other products sold at your doorstep.
However, there are key exemptions. The right does not apply to repairs or maintenance you requested urgently, such as a broken boiler in winter where you needed immediate work. It also excludes goods made to your specification, such as bespoke windows cut to unusual sizes, and sealed audio or video recordings you unseal (GOV.UK, 2026).
If you signed a contract for an energy-saving product that is not custom-made and was not an emergency, the 14-day cooling-off period almost certainly applies. Check the contract terms to confirm the trader has not attempted to exclude it unlawfully.
How to cancel a doorstep contract for an energy-saving product
You do not need a reason to cancel. Simply inform the trader in writing, either by email or letter, within 14 calendar days. Keep proof of cancellation, such as a read receipt for email or a recorded delivery slip for a posted letter (Citizens Advice, 2026).
The trader must refund you within 14 days of receiving your cancellation notice. This includes any deposit you paid and any delivery costs. If you paid by card or bank transfer, the refund should go back to the same method.
If the trader has already installed the product, they must remove it at their own cost unless you agree otherwise. You are not liable for any installation or removal charges during the cooling-off period.
Quick numbers – key cooling-off facts in one table
| Row | Column A | Column B |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cooling-off period length | 14 calendar days |
| 2 | Start date | Day after contract signed or goods received |
| 3 | Refund deadline for trader | 14 days after cancellation notice |
| 4 | Exemption example 1 | Urgent emergency repairs |
| 5 | Exemption example 2 | Bespoke/custom-made goods |
What you must know
If a salesperson visited your home and you signed a contract, you have 14 calendar days to cancel for any reason, with no penalty. You do not need to explain why, and the trader must refund all money paid, including any deposit (GOV.UK, 2026).
This right applies to nearly all energy-saving home improvements sold door-to-door in 2026, including solar panels, heat pumps, and insulation. The only exceptions are urgent emergency repairs and goods made to your specification.
If you are unsure whether your contract qualifies, check the terms and contact Citizens Advice for confirmation. The cooling-off period is your legal protection, not a courtesy the trader can waive.
How to verify a doorstep trader and your cancellation rights before you sign
Before you sign anything, ask the trader for their MCS certificate number if they are selling solar, heat pumps, or insulation. Check it on the MCS register at mcscertified.com to confirm they are certified. For UK government-backed schemes, also confirm they are registered with TrustMark at trustmark.org.uk (MCS, 2026; TrustMark, 2026).
If the work involves gas, ask for their Gas Safe Register number and check it at gassaferegister.co.uk. Before signing, request a written cancellation form – the trader is legally required to provide one under the Consumer Contracts Regulations (Gas Safe Register, 2026).
how to check an MCS certificate before signing
Verifying these credentials before you sign reduces the risk of dealing with an unregistered trader who may ignore your cooling-off rights. If a trader refuses to provide their certificate or cancellation form, consider that a red flag and do not sign.
What happens if the trader ignores your cooling-off rights
If the trader refuses a refund or continues to charge you after you have cancelled within the 14-day period, report them to Trading Standards via the Citizens Advice Consumer Service on 0808 223 1133. They can investigate and take enforcement action (Citizens Advice, 2026).
You can also dispute the payment with your bank or credit card provider. If you paid over £100 on a credit card, Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act 1974 makes the card provider jointly liable, meaning they must refund you if the trader refuses (Which?, 2026).
what to do if a solar panel company refuses to cancel your contract
Keep all correspondence, including emails and recorded delivery slips, as evidence of your cancellation. If the trader has already installed the product, they must remove it at their own cost – do not let them charge you for removal or storage.
Frequently Asked Questions
You have 14 calendar days to cancel most contracts signed in your home. This is set by the Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013 according to GOV.UK.
Yes, you have a 14-day cooling-off period to cancel any solar panel contract signed during a doorstep visit. This applies unless the panels are custom-made to your specification.
Exemptions include urgent repairs you requested (like a broken boiler in winter) and goods made to your specification, such as bespoke windows. GOV.UK lists these exceptions.
No, you do not need to give any reason. Simply inform the trader in writing within 14 calendar days of signing the contract.
The clock starts the day after you receive the written contract or the goods, whichever is later, as stated by GOV.UK.
