Free Solar Panels - unsure

larkim

I was going to respond in similar fashion, but you beat me to it, Martyn! The way things are, unless something substantial changes in the FIT regime to make it very attractive once more, I doubt house buyers are going to be mad-keen to find a roof on which an install can take place.

Ref. the scaffolding, Helen, you might find that the solar installers object to you using their scaffold ('elf 'n' safetee, and all that) - I'd check with them first if that is a route you want to go down.

Matt

bris

You are limiting you market when you come to sell, some will like it, some potential buyers certainly will not. You might save 4 or 500 pounds over 5 years in savings but it could cost thousands in house sale proceeds.

helenthemum

Just heard on my local news that FiT could be cut every 6 months.


I will check with the scaffolders 1st if I go ahead.

zeupater

helenthemum wrote: »

Thank you all for your input.

One saving I hadn't thought of (short term one off saving) is that the back wall of the house needs re-rendering, so should be able to use the scaffolding for that saving me about £500 ish

Good point about people wanting to put their own up, there is enough space on my roof for another installation. I also have 2 sets of electric as one is commercial and one is residential. I have a shop attached to my house.

At the moment I would say that i am going to be here for at least 3 possibily 5 years, then it depends on my situation.

Hi

A couple of points to consider ....

Firstly, the scaffolding will be raised to roofline level with a roofline platform which will be pretty useless for access to guttering and the associated fascia & soffit boards as it will be above these. If you require access to paint the wall you'll need additional platforms at different levels. If you want to do this you should talk to your installer to arrange the additional requirements, they will likely add any additional costs to the installation cost.

Regarding the two systems, you'd really need to check this out .... If you went with a R-A-R company there may be issues around b2b lease contracts when fitting on commercial properties which don't exist on a standard household lease. If the two systems are to be purchased and installed through meters registered to two different addresses (household/commercial) this would likely be classified as a multiple install and subjected to the reduces FiT payment (-20%) at whatever banding they fall into.

I'd guess that the best way to look at it is that if you're only looking at being in the property for 3 to 5 years then you're not likely to recover the cost of the install through FiTs, but are likely to recover some of the cost within the sale price achieved ..... with R-A-R what is the added value to a purchaser considering that they could always enter their own R-A-R agreement after purchase or even look at buying their own system (or not). The issue with R-A-R therefore comes down to whether a potential £100(ish)/year saving over the short-term can be balanced in your favour against any potential issues which could arise at sale time related to the outstanding leases.

HTH
Z

helenthemum

zeupater wrote: »

Hi

A couple of points to consider ....

Firstly, the scaffolding will be raised to roofline level with a roofline platform which will be pretty useless for access to guttering and the associated fascia & soffit boards as it will be above these. If you require access to paint the wall you'll need additional platforms at different levels. If you want to do this you should talk to your installer to arrange the additional requirements, they will likely add any additional costs to the installation cost.

I had thought about that and when they phone back to say if and when they are coming I will be sure to ask if I can pay extra to have additional boards put up.

Regarding the two systems, you'd really need to check this out .... If you went with a R-A-R company there may be issues around b2b lease contracts when fitting on commercial properties which don't exist on a standard household lease. If the two systems are to be purchased and installed through meters registered to two different addresses (household/commercial) this would likely be classified as a multiple install and subjected to the reduces FiT payment (-20%) at whatever banding they fall into.

That would not be our problem as I am considering having the R-A-R for the residential, the company know one part of the property is commercial. I think by the time I move the FiT would be so low that any buyer wouldn't both with a separate system

I'd guess that the best way to look at it is that if you're only looking at being in the property for 3 to 5 years then you're not likely to recover the cost of the install through FiTs, but are likely to recover some of the cost within the sale price achieved ..... with R-A-R what is the added value to a purchaser considering that they could always enter their own R-A-R agreement after purchase or even look at buying their own system (or not). The issue with R-A-R therefore comes down to whether a potential £100(ish)/year saving over the short-term can be balanced in your favour against any potential issues which could arise at sale time related to the outstanding leases.

Valid point and something I need to consider. FiT rates will be coming down and so people will be less likely to have their own panels installed and pay for them in a few years time.

I have spoken to our mortgage company when we first started looking into having panels and they said they were happy for us to go ahead either for the R-A-R or paid for by us. As hubby has left foring a move in 3-5 years and the FiTs will change there is no point in me borrowing the money to have my own system installed.

Martyn1981

Morning Helen, sounds like you've had a good thunk about all of this. The more the better.

Regarding the 'two' installs bit, I'm not completely sure what Zeupater means. But it may be worth considering all aspects.

I think if the 2 installs are via different meters with separate Mpan numbers (registrations), then they wouldn't effect each other, i.e. their total being added together to evaluate banding, upto 4kWp or 4 to 10kWp. They would, if both under 4kWp be classed separately.

If one system is registered for FITs with the RaR company, then the second system registered at the property (with the property owner) would be one install.

Lastly, I think to qualify for (or be subject to) the lower banding for multiple installs, you have to have reached 20 or 25 installs, that shouldn't apply either. However, I also believe that only one install can be claimed tax free, so if you for instance installed on both Mpan's then one of those installs would be subject to income tax.

I can probably find info on multiple installs if you like and hopefully clarify. Though as you say, the situation may never happen anyway, but if the commercial property is in use 5+ days a week, they would be able to benefit from higher consumption and therefore savings from PV electricity, so it might be attractive in future.

I appreciate that Z and I are asking you to over think this a little, but worth eliminating all doubts before jumping in.

Mart.

HalloweenJack

one thing homesun wont tell you , is the price of solar pv equipment has actually DROPPED by 45% (for chinese panels) in the last 12 months - if those savings were passed along , then even 21p FiT earns more than the target the government want to set

zeupater

Martyn1981 wrote: »

Morning Helen, sounds like you've had a good thunk about all of this. The more the better.

Regarding the 'two' installs bit, I'm not completely sure what Zeupater means. But it may be worth considering all aspects.

I think if the 2 installs are via different meters with separate Mpan numbers (registrations), then they wouldn't effect each other, i.e. their total being added together to evaluate banding, upto 4kWp or 4 to 10kWp. They would, if both under 4kWp be classed separately.

If one system is registered for FITs with the RaR company, then the second system registered at the property (with the property owner) would be one install.

Lastly, I think to qualify for (or be subject to) the lower banding for multiple installs, you have to have reached 20 or 25 installs, that shouldn't apply either. However, I also believe that only one install can be claimed tax free, so if you for instance installed on both Mpan's then one of those installs would be subject to income tax.

I can probably find info on multiple installs if you like and hopefully clarify. Though as you say, the situation may never happen anyway, but if the commercial property is in use 5+ days a week, they would be able to benefit from higher consumption and therefore savings from PV electricity, so it might be attractive in future.

I appreciate that Z and I are asking you to over think this a little, but worth eliminating all doubts before jumping in.

Mart.

Hi M

The issue was that if the household and commercial properties are classified as two addresses as opposed to having two MPANs within one property, then there will be multiple FiT registrations against one individual, the official position on which has changed within the past few days.

My original point above was based on the Government's consultation proposals ....

"51.We also propose introducing a new "multi-installation" tariff rate associated with each solar PV tariff band that would apply to any solar PV installation where the FIT generator or nominated recipient already owns or receives FITs payments from one or more other PV installations, located on different sites. Specifically, we propose that the multi-installation rate would apply:-

(i) if the FIT generator (whether or not the person in receipt of FIT payments) is either the FIT generator or the nominated recipient for FIT payments for any other solar PV installation; and


(ii) if the nominated recipient for FIT payments (where there is one) is either the FIT generator or the nominated recipient for FIT payments for any other installation."

(http://www.decc.gov.uk/assets/decc/11/consultation/fits-comp-review-p1/3364-fits-scheme-consultation-doc.pdf)

.... however, resulting from the consultation the latest DECC feedback (press release 9th Feb) is ....

"Based on the feedback received, the threshold is set at more than 25 installations. Individuals or organisations with 25 or fewer installations will still be eligible for the individual rate."

(http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/news/pn12_010/pn12_010.aspx)

... therefore owning installations on two properties would not now fall into the reduced tariff bracket.

I agree with Martyn1981 that the commercial property is likely to be the more attractive proposition for short-term returns/savings with this being the case whether the installation would be R-A-R or owned, the scale of potential savings being related to the type of commercial activity and related energy consumption, however, the anticipated move within 3-5 years would still concern me if it was my decision, whether R-A-R or an owned business asset possibly subject to a commercial loan ...

HTH
Z

jameskassien

Solar Roof Solutions in Sheffield are offering Free panels again

Unfort im new and cant post website but im sure if you google them you will find them.

helenthemum

Being in Cornwall and working from home I think I should be able to make use of the solar panels.

I agree with Martyn1981 that the commercial property is likely to be the more attractive proposition for short-term returns/savings with this being the case whether the installation would be R-A-R or owned, the scale of potential savings being related to the type of commercial activity and related energy consumption, however, the anticipated move within 3-5 years would still concern me if it was my decision, whether R-A-R or an owned business asset possibly subject to a commercial loan ...

I can run extension leads from my workshop to the house when there is enough free electric being generated. I can't from the shop as there would be health and safety issues.

I think I would have a problem selling the house anyway as it is part commercial, at the moment too many businesses are going bust, but who knows in 3-5 years.

Thank you all for your input.