Bought a house with solar panels but can't prove we own them!

pinklady21

Make a polite request for a copy of your solicitor's complaints procedure. In itself that might get them to take a bit more notice!

spendinglikemad

rjanson wrote: »

I cannot switch to a cheaper energy (gas/elec) provider as I have an open FIT application!

So, as a vendor I have all the forms ready to complete when my sale completes and ready to take to the solicitors (just needs the readings taking on that day)

However, I note you say you cannot change electricity/gas supplier whist FiT application is open and you may want to re-visit that, you don't have to be with the same electric/gas supplier as your FiT and it shouldn't affect it. I always had my FiT with SSE but constantly switched suppliers on my usage for gas/electric.

When I looked at my transfer forms for SSE they do specify a proof of purchase of the panels is required and says from solictors or other so I guess the solicitors will have to write a letter that you put in with the application saying the purchase of the property includes the purchase of the panels

Hope that helps

SLM

phillw

AdrianC wrote: »

And unless the previous owner actually sold them off to a rent-a-roof outfit after paying to have them fitted (vanishingly unlikely), nor will anybody else be able to prove they own them...

Whether it's likely or not, it would appear the system is setup to prevent you from selling the solar panels to two different people.

agrinnall

AdrianC wrote: »

There's nothing to worry about. Sure, you don't have paper to explicitly "prove" ownership of the panels. You don't have paper to explicitly "prove" ownership of the bath tub or the kitchen cupboards, either.

I'm inclined to agree on actual ownership, but assuming the OP would like to benefit from the FIT payments in addition to the reduced grid electricity they are also enjoying then they need to provide the proof requested.

I will try to dig out the paperwork that I had to send to my FIT provider when I bought my current house that was fitted with solar panels by the previous owners who fully paid them off at completion.

Edit *******

I have found the paperwork now, it's for Scottish Power but I assume will be similar for other FIT providers.

The key item that you seem to be missing is the "Change of Tenancy / Ownership (OUT)" form. This is completed by the seller to confirm they no longer own the property and sent to the FIT provider, who then contact the new owner (although I contacted SP myself) so that they can complete their side of the transfer. I would suggest that you need to get your solicitor to require the seller's solicitor to complete this form (perhaps try to get a blank from UW to send to them to help the process). How easy this will be to achieve after completion when there's no longer an incentive for the seller to do it I can't say. One thing I would definitely not do and that's provide any FIT readings until you have resolved this, as the payments will go to the current registered account until it can be changed.

tim9966

I've got the same problem with an new build house.


I've got paperwork saying the house would come with solar panels, which it did. I've got the MCS cert, but I keep being asked for a invoice on headed notepaper from the solar panel company showing I bought the solar panels which I didn't directly do, they came with the house, so now I can't register for FIT payments.

cjmillsnun

rjanson wrote: »

All the while, I cannot switch to a cheaper energy (gas/elec) provider as I have an open FIT application!

Of course you can change supplier for your incoming feeds. As long as your bills are up to date, they can't stop you, even with an open FiT application.

cjmillsnun

steampowered wrote: »

Have a look at http://www.rics.org/uk/knowledge/glossary/fixtures-and-fittings-chattels/

If something is fixed to the property, then it is a 'fixture' - which means that ownership automatically transfers alongside ownership of the property.

It is not normal for all fixtures to be listed as part of the sale process. A solicitor would not normally list light fittings, curtain rails, electric sockets, tower rails, the fence in the back garden and so on in the sale contract. Ownership of all of these items passes to the new owner automatically.

Unless I am missing something, a solar panel which has been installed on the property is a fixture and ownership of it would pass to you when you buy the property automatically by operation of law.

So isn't your proof of ownership just a copy of the sale contract for the property?

From https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/mortgages/buying-a-home-timeline

Get fixtures and fittings in writing
To avoid getting the keys to a stripped-bare house, ask the seller for a list of all fixtures and fittings included in the purchase. Right down to light fittings, TV aerial cable screws, bins and the fire grate. Yes, one forumite found these gone.

Tom99

Did the seller include the panels in form TA10 F&F and also answer correctly question 4.6 of form TA6?

rjanson

The seller did not include them in the TA10 form but they were listed in section 4.6 of the TA6 form. Should they have been listed in both? As first-time buyers, we were given very little information by our solicitors!

Tom99

rjanson wrote: »

The seller did not include them in the TA10 form but they were listed in section 4.6 of the TA6 form. Should they have been listed in both? As first-time buyers, we were given very little information by our solicitors!

They should have listed them in Form TA10 which would have confirmed they were including them in the sale with TA6 confirming they owned them outright. If they had that might have helped you cause.

Since solar panels are so common you would think they would be a standard entry on TA10 by now.