Solar Panel Troubles when selling

pinklady21

Davesnave wrote: »

Quite straightforward. They go on the Energy Saving Trust web site, input their details and see what the potential saving would be per year.


In my case it was £238, which is very nice, but I don't think I'll be here when the £5000 installation cost has been covered.


Yes, I know the price of leccy keeps going up, but it's still not a total no brainer for many of us, especially when reading tales like this one.

Possibly true for the now lower FiTs and RHI payments. But a few years ago when the cost of installation was higher, but the returns on offer were also correspondingly higher, it was worth it.
The solar panels I installed have more or less paid for themselves in 6 or 7 years. A good deal when the FiT of around £900 per year continues for 20 years.
I wish I could take the panels and the FiT with me when I move!

Davesnave

pinklady21 wrote: »

I wish I could take the panels and the FiT with me when I move!

Well, that is the point I was making.

TonyMMM

An EA friend of mine tells me what a problem solar panel installations have become for buyers/sellers with lots of long delays and sales falling through because of them. Mostly due to ownership & contract issues, but he did mention fitting concerns being raised by surveyors becoming very common recently.

Robbie_R00

Thanks very much. I have checked with Insurance Backed Guarantee, but they don't cover Zenith Staybrite, However, some much better news, in amongst the paperwork of the installation I found a Guarantee Insurance policy that would take over from Zenith in the event that they ceased trading. I have been in touch, and aside from having to complete a registration form (which I already sent off in 2014!), it looks like I will have the rest of the 10 year warranty, and this covers breaches of building regulations and putting right any defective materials or fault arising from defective workmanship. I can transfer this to the new owner, for a small fee, so I think we are probably ok. Let's see what the other solicitors have to say...!

Robbie_R00

MysteryMe wrote: »

If your installation is registered with the MCS they would have received the required buildings compliance docs from the installer before a certificate was issued.

The MCS certificate states that the Planning Regulations compliance was Permitted Development Rights, and the Building Regulations notification is: "After the installation through a self certification Competent Persons Scheme" - do you know if this means the installer would have done this, as they would be the Competent Person?

TrickyDicky101

When my installation (of solar panels) was completed the installer provided me with a whole host of documents/documentation; one such document was a roof survey completed by a third party confirming suitability for the panel load. Do you have anything similar? Maybe buried in your original paperwork? Maybe this would go some way to satisfy your buyers (although I appreciate it is not something they could rely on)...

armchaireconomist

Just pay a joiner to come in and add some more timbers to the roof (presuming open loft) and invite buyer to send a structural engineer to inspect.

MysteryMe

Robbie_R00 wrote: »

The MCS certificate states that the Planning Regulations compliance was Permitted Development Rights, and the Building Regulations notification is: "After the installation through a self certification Competent Persons Scheme" - do you know if this means the installer would have done this, as they would be the Competent Person?

Yes, it would be the installer.

Glad you found your installation is still covered by warranty. Hopefully there wont be an issue with the roof but if there is at least you know you are covered.