My dad is buying a property with panels...

jimmyboy420

Hi,

So I have a solar system, I understand how the FIT works etc, what I am not really aware of is transfer of ownership at theg point of purchase of a house.

My dad is buying a semi detached house, and they have had solar panels since approximately November or December last year (I would guess, judging by the figures on their TGM).

I do not think these panels are RaR, as there's about 5 facing NE and 5 facing SE. To be honest, I can't see that they were a particularly wise financial investment for the vendor, but that's not an issue - my dad is not relying on income from them - they're just a nice to have.

So, what does he need to know/do to transfer ownership? The installers details, or just the installation details? It's quite possible the vendor hasn't even got everything registered yet!

Also, they have an immersun or similar. Dad will probably take this out to convert it to a combi boiler system. Can this easily be converted in to, say, some sort of underfloor heating system on the same principle?

Cheers!

James

zeupater

jimmyboy420 wrote: »

Hi,

So I have a solar system, I understand how the FIT works etc, what I am not really aware of is transfer of ownership at theg point of purchase of a house.

My dad is buying a semi detached house, and they have had solar panels since approximately November or December last year (I would guess, judging by the figures on their TGM).

I do not think these panels are RaR, as there's about 5 facing NE and 5 facing SE. To be honest, I can't see that they were a particularly wise financial investment for the vendor, but that's not an issue - my dad is not relying on income from them - they're just a nice to have.

So, what does he need to know/do to transfer ownership? The installers details, or just the installation details? It's quite possible the vendor hasn't even got everything registered yet!

Also, they have an immersun or similar. Dad will probably take this out to convert it to a combi boiler system. Can this easily be converted in to, say, some sort of underfloor heating system on the same principle?

Cheers!

James

Hi

First thing is to make sure that you know whether the panels are owned or RaR - if it's RaR then make sure that he's aware of the implications. For an owned system your solicitor should really advise as part of the conveyancing process, but make sure that the transfer of the FiT registration is part of the purchase deal, you don't want to buy the property and find that the glass on the roof is still owned by someone else ....

Regarding the boiler ... is there a reason why your dad would be looking at replacing a standard or system boiler with a combi ? - doesn't make much sense to me, less so considering that he'd be throwing money down the drain for the greater part of the year ... that's literally, not figuratively ...

HTH
Z

Ectophile

If it's not an RaR scheme, then the panels are part of the fixtures and fittings, so ownership would come with buying the house.

One vital bit of paperwork is the MCS certificate which should have been supplied by the original installer. It's a bit of paper that says it's been properly installed and qualifies for feed in tariff payments.

tunnel

jimmyboy420 wrote: »

Also, they have an immersun or similar. Dad will probably take this out to convert it to a combi boiler system. Can this easily be converted in to, say, some sort of underfloor heating system on the same principle?

He could use it to pre heat the water for underfloor heating but he won't be using the spare energy in the summer as the heating is not needed(usually) when generation is at a peak, better to keep the hot water tank for "free" hot water 6-9 months a year, it'll certainly be a better use of the generated power.
Maybe better looking into economy 7 for heating the underfloor in the winter
Not having a hot water tank is my biggest regret, don't let your pops do the same

Martyn1981

jimmyboy420 wrote: »

Hi,

Also, they have an immersun or similar. Dad will probably take this out to convert it to a combi boiler system. Can this easily be converted in to, say, some sort of underfloor heating system on the same principle?

Cheers!

James

Hiya James, I agree, very strongly with the other posts about retaining a hot water tank and diversionary switch. I have a combi, and to change would not make a lot of sense. Similarly, given that there doesn't really seem to be a winner when comparing combi to non-combi systems (every discussion I've read seems to come out 50/50) it wouldn't make much sense for your father to switch systems, especially given that he will have a very good PV/DHW maximised set up from the go.

Obviously we all have our preferences, and therefore fully appreciate your father's position if he's used to a combi, but with the properties current set up, it might be worth you suggesting he has a re-think.

Mart.

jimmyboy420

I will suggest it... I don't think it will work though!

He is a plumber, and at 64, rather set in his ways. He is very keen on the idea of a combi, though he will live with the system for a while first, which might persuade him that a system boiler is a better option.

Thanks for the feedback - I'll make sure the conveyancer is aware of the solar system and that it all goes through them.

EricMears

jimmyboy420 wrote: »

He is a plumber, and at 64, rather set in his ways. He is very keen on the idea of a combi

My next door neighbour is a retired plumber but really set in his ways ! He still regards copper piping as 'new-fangled', is shocked by my (almost) all plastic system and wouldn't touch a combi with a barge-pole

I still regard combis as relatively 'new' - I fitted one (in my previous house) about 25 years ago and was never all that impressed with it. Yes, it did offer some space-saving, but flow rates were never quite as good as the conventional 'stored DHW' system it replaced. In our new house, I've installed a 'Heatbank' system which does indeed take up a fair amount of space (though that's tucked away in an unused corner of basement) but the tank is so well lagged it causes very few losses (and since that's inside the building they're not really 'losses' at all). Our mains pressure DHW and high flow rates are far superior to anything we got with our combi or that any of our combi-using friends have.

jimmyboy420

EricMears wrote: »

My next door neighbour is a retired plumber but really set in his ways ! He still regards copper piping as 'new-fangled', is shocked by my (almost) all plastic system and wouldn't touch a combi with a barge-pole

I still regard combis as relatively 'new' - I fitted one (in my previous house) about 25 years ago and was never all that impressed with it. Yes, it did offer some space-saving, but flow rates were never quite as good as the conventional 'stored DHW' system it replaced. In our new house, I've installed a 'Heatbank' system which does indeed take up a fair amount of space (though that's tucked away in an unused corner of basement) but the tank is so well lagged it causes very few losses (and since that's inside the building they're not really 'losses' at all). Our mains pressure DHW and high flow rates are far superior to anything we got with our combi or that any of our combi-using friends have.

Although he is semi-retired now, he has instlaled combis for me twice, and himself once, over the last 6 or 7 years. He is definitely keen on them - I think the space saving is one notable aspect. I will ask him to try it for a while - in the summer he should get his hot water for free, which would be good and might persuade him

EricMears

jimmyboy420 wrote: »

He is definitely keen on them - I think the space saving is one notable aspect.

IMHO, 'space saving' is the only advantage that combis offer.

Even though we've got our Heatbank in a large empty cupboard, it doesn't get warm enough (i.e. the lagging is so good !) to act as an airing cupboard so SWMBO insisted I build another cupboard elsewhere and put a radiator in it. I mention that only because having a huge tank of very hot water is often perceived as a potential source of heat loss.

Our Heatbank is in the basement because we have plenty of room there. If space indoors was at a premium, the things can be fitted in (say) the attic.

Combi advertising makes much of them supplying DHW at 'mains pressure' though usually glosses over the fact that it only applies when you're using low amounts. Try running a bath from one and you soon realise that flow rates are low.

If you are using a Heatbank with an 'Immersun' (or similar) there's another huge advantage in that you can heat the tank up to around 95 deg C hence using a lot of that free electricity.

zeupater

Ectophile wrote: »

If it's not an RaR scheme, then the panels are part of the fixtures and fittings, so ownership would come with buying the house ...

Hi

Probably, but no necessarily so. It would theoretically be possible to exclude the pv system or the transfer of the MCS registration from the sale and therefore should be checked out as part of the conveyancing process ... I'd personally check it before instructing a solicitor for obvious cost related reasons ...

HTH
Z

jimmyboy420

I have just found out that the vendor paid £9,200 for a 2.5kW system with an iBoost or Imersun (I've seen it but can't remember which it was), split 50:50 NE/SE, in September of 2014.

Ouch. I feel like the vendor should complain to trading standards! It's crazy.