Putting up solar panels and restriction covenant

RoadToRiches

I stupidly asked a major house builder the size of my roof to work out whether having solar panels was viable, they came back asking for my address, then after giving it they send a standard copy and paste email saying they could not help.

Further they mention about complying with local planning law and building regulations and to check any restrictions contained in the transfer including any obligation to seek approval from them for any proposed alterations.

Doing a bit of digging and find property has a restricted covenant.

I am now worried as I have the order in for solar panels to go up. Looking around the estate, I am not the only one who has them and so it could be argued that there is a change to the area since when I bought the property. What are the likelihood of them coming around and telling me to take them down with others breaching and getting away with it.  Should I just go ahead and not rock the boat any further.

House was sold and the builder has been off the estate for over 7 years now.

bris

You need to find out who holds the covenant and if they are still enforcing it.

Chances are they wont be, it the chance you take.

You can also ask to have the covenant removed by the Lands tribunal but that may be expensive.

RoadToRiches

bris said:

You need to find out who holds the covenant and if they are still enforcing it.

Chances are they wont be, it the chance you take.

You can also ask to have the covenant removed by the Lands tribunal but that may be expensive.

I'm assuming that the property developer who sold me the house is the covenant owner, hence them asking me to seek their approval, or could that be the council who they bought the land from to build the estate in the first place?  If that's the case then I don't think I should make the same mistake twice by contacting them