Free Solar Panels - Does this affect your House Insurance?

townfan63

Hi,
I'm a newbie to the forums so I apologise if this question has already been asked but I couldn't see it.

I'm in the process of debating whether to go ahead with a Free installation of Solar Panels from ISIS but was wondering whether this is likely to affect my House Insurance premiums. Does anyone have any experience of this?

Thanks

bjohnson

My insurers said that it would not affect my insurance except that I should increase the amount insured to reflect the new value of the property. However, they also said that I would not be covered for physical damage to panels although I would be covered if a panel blew off and did some damage elsewhere! That means that if someone threw a brick at a panel I wouldn't be covered. It may be worth asking around the insurance companies.

Zenoka

We were surprised to find that our insurance already covered solar panels, we didn't even have to call them as it was mentioned in the policy book. We have our own panels rather than free ones.

JenR8

When we got our free system I contacted our insurance company and having the panels made no difference to our policy or premium. While renewing recently I got a quote from another company with the same result.

The panels themselves are insured by the installers for third party risks.

thenudeone

Zenoka wrote: »

We were surprised to find that our insurance already covered solar panels, we didn't even have to call them as it was mentioned in the policy book. We have our own panels rather than free ones.

Which company was that with?

A List of each company's policies relating to Solar panels is probably worth a thread, on its own!

Lemoncurd

I contacted Endsleigh and they referred the question to their underwriter before calling back and saying that we were covered and no changes needed to be made. I think their policy document does mention them but only to say that we wouldn't be covered if they failed to work or something.

townfan63

Thanks for your input. I've since spoken to my Insurers (Sheila's Wheels) who advised they are covered by the existing Buildings Insurance and so won't affect my premium.

What they did say though was that I need to call and let them know when the installation begins and ends as they will reduce the cover to Standard during that period.

Any thoughts?

joolsleeds

townfan63 wrote: »

What they did say though was that I need to call and let them know when the installation begins and ends as they will reduce the cover to Standard during that period.

Any thoughts?

We had to do that - it was because of the scaffolding being at the house, and the increased risk of people being able to break in upstairs.

I think thats normal - similar to if you need scaffolding if you have work done on your roof.

saluja

I've got panels on my roof (where else?). I checked with moreThan house insurance and they say my regular contents and buildings policy covers them with no extra premium. Surprisingly simple!
I need to get back to supplier, however, to check on any insurance (for 3rd party damage perhaps) which is part of the installation deal.

keep saving, guys.:j

saluja

thenudeone wrote: »

Which company was that with?

A List of each company's policies relating to Solar panels is probably worth a thread, on its own!

standard contents and buildings policy through morethan is ok, no extra premium or change to policy. Worth informing them, of course.

thenudeone

thenudeone wrote: »

A List of each company's policies relating to Solar panels is probably worth a thread, on its own!

So here it is: https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/3334072