Solar Panels - Should I be wary?

Leakrgn

Myself and my boyfriend are looking into putting an offer in on a 3 bed house which has solar panels. We are first time buyers and I think people can tell we are a little inexperienced.

We asked the estate agent what the impact of the solar panels is on the house and whether it is a 100% benefit and he said yes, however my mother says that they get installed for free and then the cost of the installation and the equipment itself gets added onto your energy bills so it isn't always a good thing. So at the moment there is a potential hidden cost that we are unaware of but the estate agent says he doesn't know and it's for solicitors to find out. Shouldn't he know???

dgtazzman

He should at least be able to ask the seller for clarification. They could have paid for the panels themselves, they might have had a grant for them, ...

There have been so many different schemes for solar panels over the years, who knows which one they might have used.

Kayalana99

My mum got hers for free, the solar panels get more energy during the day then she actally uses so they then 'resell' the rest of the energy to other houses and thats how they make thier money.

My mums bill is cheaper for it so its win win.

She had the option of buying them straight out and they 'pay for themselfs in 7 years' (who knows) but thier really expensive

Leakrgn

Quite a few houses on the road have them, it does kind of look like at some point someone went round with a clipboard and a grin and signed people up to them...

Leakrgn

Kayalana99 wrote: »

My mum got hers for free, the solar panels get more energy during the day then she actally uses so they then 'resell' the rest of the energy to other houses and thats how they make thier money.

My mums bill is cheaper for it so its win win.

She had the option of buying them straight out and they 'pay for themselfs in 7 years' (who knows) but thier really expensive

Thanks for that! I was hoping that it wouldn't necessarily be an issue but my mum has managed to sufficiently panic me about it!!

Furts

If the panels were a free installation the panel owners have the right to clamber over the roof or in the house for maintenance for a period of 25 years.

If they were free it is more likely the workmanship and component quality is not the best.

From your perspective check if planning permission was required for the panels. If so, did this occur?

Check the roof carefully for defects and damage caused by the panel installation.

Make sure you get the guarantees and operating manuals for the system. Check if it is working. Ideally it will have received a service or inspection

The vast majority of pv installations never received Building Regulations approval. Time will tell how many problems this causes. I have have seen some installations and wonder why the householder ever agreed to sign off the installation. But that is the joy of buying a house!

ACG

If your applying for a mortgage, speak to the lender.

Some have issues with who owns the solar panels, i dont think them bing owned by someone else who pays you x amount for having them but just double check what the deal is so you can run it by your mortgage company first.

WATTY1978

We had issues with our mortgage because we have just bought a house with rented panels. the panel company were excellent in helping sort it out. they quickly drew up a deed of variation and it was sorted.

They did say they now meet the mortgage of council lenders requirements but some of the older leases like ours needed a small adjustment. Its all fine now. Didnt cost me any more on buildings insurance either.

All the best

kingstreet

Here's the Leeds BS instructions to solicitor on a property with solar panels;-

http://www.leedsbuildingsociety.co.uk/introducers/solicitors/pdf/solar-panel-pack-for-legal-advisors.pdf

Other lenders may have different requirements. This was one I could find easily.

anselld

kingstreet wrote: »

Here's the Leeds BS instructions to solicitor on a property with solar panels;-

http://www.leedsbuildingsociety.co.uk/introducers/solicitors/pdf/solar-panel-pack-for-legal-advisors.pdf

Other lenders may have different requirements. This was one I could find easily.

Specifically, a system where "the solar panels are to be subject to a lease", ie a so-called rent-a-roof or free-install system.

It is unlikely that a mortgage company would place any such conditions on a fully owned system.

Propertyfan

Solar panels for UK properties is like learning algebra at school.

Makes no sense!