Solar Panels: Worth it or not?

Cardew

harrowing. wrote: »

♫ Spam-diddy-spam-spam spam-spam ...

Agreed it is spam - but may I suggest that you don't quote spam as your post might not be deleted!

Brummie71

rogerblack wrote: »

A lot of people seem to omit the possibility that they'll lose all their investment at some time if they have to move.
If you estimate you have a 10% chance of having to move in the time period, that changes the average payback time a little.

Sure - you may not be planning it at this time - but what if you or your partner gets ill, or has children, or loses or gets a better job which means you need to move?

On the other hand, if I'm buying a property with a guaranteed income for x number of years ahead, then might I be prepared to pay a little more?

You probably wouldn't want to be in the advance guard of those who sell their property with panels on the roof, but give it five years or so and it might prove a deciding factor in your favour.

Brummie71

Andy_WSM wrote: »

Buying, yes, before March when the FIT tariff is likely to reduce.

Don't like the idea of rent-a-roof personally...

Rent a roof is fraught with pitfalls. I would just say that unless you are in the VERY small group of people for whom it makes sense - at home a lot and planning on being there for a long time - then I wouldn't touch rent a roof with a bargepole.

Buying makes a lot of sense, but I really wouldn't delay. There is a chance that the tariff might change for new installs BEFORE March.

melbury

Cardew wrote: »

If you can afford the £10,000 to £13,000 it costs to buy a system, and wait 10 years or so until you break even and start making a profit; then buying is the way to go IMO.

Also IMO the free 'rent a roof' schemes have far too many potential problems for too meagre a reward to make them viable.

Anyone who pays the £500 or so, that some firms charge, are deluded - again IMO.

P.S.



You should be aware that WHICH recently reported that some installers make greatly exagerated claims of potential income.

In essence any system on your roof of a certain size(e.g 4kWp) will produce virtually the same output and thus the same income. You can find this out from many calculators on the web, and not rely on a website that derives its income from the commission it gets for referring customers to firms who are prepared to pay such commission.

Have been reading about this for quite a while, but there are so many companies on the bandwagon it is really difficult to know which ones are good.

Are there any companies that you would particularly recommend?

Thanks.

melbury

Bump - any advice anyone?;)