Solar pv house buying problem

Anninha

I am buying a house with a 3kWp solar pv panel system. The panels were installed in September 2012, owned outright by the seller and they definitely receive the FIT for them.
However the installers went bust within days of the installation and the sellers have no documentation regarding the panels. There is no building regs certificate and no mcs certificate (even though the FIT was set up).
An electrical inspection is being done and they have agreed to indemnity insurance regarding the building regs.
Is this enough? Is there anything else I should be asking for? Would this be enough to make you walk away?
My solicitors are good but this isn't something they've come across before. I'm also a first time buyer and until now had no experience with pv panels (but learning fast!)

Thanks

bris

You need to make sure the FIT is transferred to you or they keep getting paid not you.


There will be a copy of the certificate with the supplier who pays the tariff, I had to send all the documents to them for their records, ask them to send you a copy back.


They wouldn't necessarily needed planning permission for them, I didn't, but don't phone the council to ask yet or you will lose the opportunity to get indemnity insurance

lisyloo

Ask the owners (via estate agents) about the manufacturers warranties.
Panel and invertors are usually under warranty.
They should at least know who the manufacturers are so you (or they) can phone up and ask.

I applied for FIT recently and had to supplied MCS, passport, address id etc. so hopefully you should be able to get all that.

No it wouldn't make me walk away at this stage.
If the manufacturers warranties are in place there is no issue.
You are of course taking on responsibility for maintenance but that should be easily offset by FIT payments and leccy savings.

Martyn1981

Anninha wrote: »

I am buying a house with a 3kWp solar pv panel system. The panels were installed in September 2012, owned outright by the seller and they definitely receive the FIT for them.
However the installers went bust within days of the installation and the sellers have no documentation regarding the panels. There is no building regs certificate and no mcs certificate (even though the FIT was set up).

Thanks

Hiya, and welcome.

As previously mentioned, building regs probably not involved. However the MCS certificate bit is important.

To be receiving FiT a copy must have been supplied to the energy supplier/FiT provider so that would suggest that a certificate was issued. This doesn't exactly tie in with the story that no documentation was issued.

Why not contact MCS explain the situation and ask if they can confirm whether a certificate was issued.

I've no idea if they'll discuss this with you, but worth asking. Maybe push your luck and ask if once you've bought the house (and can confirm that) whether a copy can be issued.

Doh! Why not ask the seller (via your solicitor) to ask MCS for a copy now? Peace of mind and all that.

You say you're new to PV. Well several of us PV'ers put a FAQ together which you may find useful. It was written by PV'ers (not installers/salesmen) and is aimed more at those thinking of installing, but might still be helpful.

PV FAQ

Best of luck.

Mart.

Argghhh

if the installation company went bust its likely any warranty went bust with them. Indemnity against failure of the panels would be a good idea to cover future issues as the inverters arent expected to be working after approx 7 years and will need replacing

[Deleted User]

The panels usually have a manufacturer's warranty that far exceeds the installer's warranty. 20 or 25 years are not uncommon.

Martyn1981

Just for clarity regarding panels and inverters.

Panels - warranties will vary, but most come with 10 year warranties. However they usually also have 20/25 year performance guarantees, normally along the lines that they will still produce 80% of their original rating after that length of time.

Inverters - standard warranties will usually vary from 5 to 12 years, with most manufacturers offering extended warranties (at a cost) up to 15 or 20 years or so. Life expectancy of an inverter will obviously vary, but 7 years is a low estimate. Suggestions now are of much longer life. SMA suggest their inverters should last around 20 years. [Edit: SMA have updated their website. They used to say 'have a service life of over 20 years' but now just say '... SMA inverters are characterised by a long service life ...' which isn't exactly helpful! M.]

The first grid PV system in the UK had it's inverter replaced after 14 years, but the article doesn't say whether it failed or not, describing it as an upgrade:

The system has generated 33MWh with no faults for the last 20 years, although an inverter upgrade of the Sunny Boy SB-2500 was fitted in 2008.

First UK grid connected PV system 95% efficient 20 years later

Mart.

Argghhh

Hi Martyn
I looked into having solar panels and everything you just said is correct - - however the installation guy warned that be ready for the inverters to possibly need replacing ANYTIME after 7 years, like everything else some will last much longer, indemnity insurance to cover the missing warranty would cover this

Martyn1981

Argghhh wrote: »

Hi Martyn
I looked into having solar panels and everything you just said is correct - - however the installation guy warned that be ready for the inverters to possibly need replacing ANYTIME after 7 years, like everything else some will last much longer, indemnity insurance to cover the missing warranty would cover this

Hiya Argghhh, sorry, wasn't trying to be pedantic, but I think it's very hard to get the balance right when talking about PV. TBH the FAQ is a little pessimistic as that's probably better than giving people overhyped expectations.

Totally agree that the inverters could possibly need replacing after 7 years. But it was the comment that they aren't expected to be working after 7 years that I thought was a little too pessimistic (on average). Apologies if I was over-analysing the statement.

Fingers crossed they'll last longer than folk expect, but including the cost of a replacement inverter when calculating the cost and income for a PV system is probably a wise move. Plus of course, a PV system could last 30 or 40 years (well past the FiT period) and I can't see one lasting that long ..... unfortunately, especially as I have 3!

[Edit - My WNW system (July 2012) has a SolarEdge inverter which came with a 12 year warranty. At the time an extension to 20 years cost £300. I've noticed that the price is now £200. Could be that the kit has got cheaper, or life expectancies are growing, but either way good news for new installs. M.]

Mart.

PS. Sounds like the installer guy was fair and honest. Makes a change from some of the horror stories on here. If you do re-consider PV (assuming you didn't get it) try out the Green & Ethical board, loads of PV'ers on there to offer advice and analyse quotes etc. M.

Argghhh

the only reason i didnt go ahead (was buying outright) was my house is on a school run and the panels would be visible all the way up the road and i just had this awful feeling that bricks etc would get thrown at them

Martyn1981

Same worry here. We live on a hill, next door is a bungalow, then a small road, then a large park. With the hill, the park is actually higher than the 1.18kWp ESE system, which sits on our lower back roof.

Wifey told me I was being silly worrying about stones, but it did concern me quite a bit. No trouble so far, but keeping them fingers crossed.

Mart.