Worth keeping or dumping thermal solar?

maisie_cat

We are getting our house sorted this year with a view to selling later this or next year.
I have been reading scary stories about buyers coming back months later claiming for broken infrastructure & I know somebody who this happened to.
I can't decide what to do with our thermal solar, we have 2 panels on the roof that supply most of our hot water on clear days. In the summer we use virtually no gas at all.
My concern is that the solar adds no value to the house, that's fine. But if it breaks down after we sell they buyer could claim £000s to replace.
Would it be better to get the panels removed or the system decommissioned to avoid the likelihood? The thermal store has 3 taps (gas boiler, woodburner & solar) so the system could be recommissioned or replaced later by the buyer.
I would appreciate any advise, I haven't moved for 11 years and the landscape has changed.

hazyjo

You could say the same thing about your boiler or appliance you're leaving.


You sign something to say things are in working condition and the buyer does their own checks should they choose. 'Buyer beware.'


Presuming these are 'solar panels' and thermal solar isn't something completely different, are they leased? Leased solar panels scare a lot of lenders (and buyers) and may even deem it unmortgageable with some lenders.


Jx

Davesnave

I wouldn't be too influenced by scare stories.

The buyer is responsible for checking all systems. Provided you make no false or extravagant claims about them, you will be in the clear.

Or are you in Scotland and not declaring it?

Davesnave

hazyjo wrote: »

Presuming these are 'solar panels' and thermal solar isn't something completely different, are they leased? Leased solar panels scare a lot of lenders (and buyers) and may even deem it unmortgageable with some lenders.

Thermal panels can't be part of rent a roof schemes, as you can't export hot water to the grid!

hazyjo

Davesnave wrote: »

Thermal panels can't be part of rent a roof schemes, as you can't export hot water to the grid!

Ta - didn't take much notice of what they were for - that'll learn me Was just seeing them as being leased on someone's roof. So are they bought outright and fitted?


Jx

Davesnave

hazyjo wrote: »

Ta - didn't take much notice of what they were for - that'll learn me Was just seeing them as being leased on someone's roof. So are they bought outright and fitted?


Jx

Yes, they preceded solar PV. They're basically some tubes on the roof that collect the sun's heat and transfer it to the water in them, which is part of the hot water system. On cold, sunless days they do nothing, but on hot ones, they'll provide plenty of hot water for nowt.

hazyjo

Davesnave wrote: »

Yes, they preceded solar PV. They're basically some tubes on the roof that collect the sun's heat and transfer it to the water in them, which is part of the hot water system. On cold, sunless days they do nothing, but on hot ones, they'll provide plenty of hot water for nowt.

Thanks. Very helpful

maisie_cat

hazyjo wrote: »

You could say the same thing about your boiler or appliance you're leaving.


You sign something to say things are in working condition and the buyer does their own checks should they choose. 'Buyer beware.'


Presuming these are 'solar panels' and thermal solar isn't something completely different, are they leased? Leased solar panels scare a lot of lenders (and buyers) and may even deem it unmortgageable with some lenders.


Jx

I should have been clearer, we are in England, the panels were bought outright and there are no lease schemes for thermal.
The boiler is new and I will have it serviced the week before we complete, that's what a friend was caught out with. The solar system needs flushing through and possibly refilling every couple of years but that's really it, it has a control panel and a pump and pipes (lot's of pipe) so it doesn't get an annual service like a boiler
The difference with a boiler is that you can't really sell a house without one and lack of or condition would affect the selling price.
My issue is that the thermal solar panels and indeed appliances are not mandatory and I do not believe that the selling price of the house will be different without them.
That's a thought actually, does that mean that if I sell the buyer my cooker for a token £1 and it breaks they can come back for £2000 to replace it? or would I just give them the £1 back?

.

maisie_cat

Davesnave wrote: »

Yes, they preceded solar PV. They're basically some tubes on the roof that collect the sun's heat and transfer it to the water in them, which is part of the hot water system. On cold, sunless days they do nothing, but on hot ones, they'll provide plenty of hot water for nowt.

Actually they do pretty well on cold days as long as it is clear. We checked when we had snow the other year and it was a lovely clear day and the thing was collecting! I do like having it and you get shed loads of hot water from it, I will install something similar when we move, it wouldn't put me off, but most people don't know much about it.

JigglyPug

I think you're worrying unnecessarily. It is the buyers responsibility to satisfy themselves that things are working correctly prior to exchange, as long as you're not telling them that it's working when it isn't, it won't be an issue. If they're really concerned then they'll get a professional in to check the condition of everything before they exchange and if they don't, they can't then complain if it doesn't work after completion. If you're really concerned, get everything checked over and serviced prior to putting the property on the market and give your buyers a copy of the report through your solicitor.

Davesnave

maisie_cat wrote: »

Actually they do pretty well on cold days as long as it is clear. We checked when we had snow the other year and it was a lovely clear day and the thing was collecting! I do like having it and you get shed loads of hot water from it, I will install something similar when we move, it wouldn't put me off, but most people don't know much about it.

Well, maybe some
people don't know, but then you have a wood burner too and they're just as much a Dark Art and messy! I think most people would be willing to learn about things that save them money.

The only down-side to panels is the fact that they're not visually attractive, but then most houses are hardly works of art either.

If you sell an item to a buyer second-hand without making any claims as to its condition, they accept it as seen on the day of sale and there's no come back or entitlement to betterment.