A Shade Greener feed-in tariff solar panels - pigeon problems

noctua

I've read most articles on this issue and also reached out to "consumer champions" for help to no avail. My parents got these panels in around late 2014 on a 25 year lease, after being sold the idea by a salesman at the door. They were pretty ignorant of the whole thing and how it would work/be fitted other than the fact it would save them money on their electricity bill.

Around 4 or 5 years after the panels were installed, the problem of pigeons nesting became apparent. There are around 20 pigeons at any given time pooing over the patio, dropping eggs, sometimes dead birds are on the ground, loads of debris from the nests. ASG have also covered 90% of the south face of the roof, leaving around 5-10cm between the panel and the guttering. Which means the guttering is constantly blocked with weeds and nests. Every other panel install I have seen the panels are a bit further up the roof away from the guttering.

I wrote to them in around 2019 in detail about this issue. In return they sent a pretty aggressive response saying that the issue was attributed to a food waste issue in my area and had nothing to do with the panels. They also made a remark about customers taking them to court and always losing. At the end of the letter they offered to install guards at a cost of around £600-800 as a goodwill gesture. 

I've read through the contract and it says they're responsible for the maintenance of the panel. I guess maintenance doesn't mean the side effects of the panels like pigeons which explains why I can't find a single case of anyone getting ASG to resolve this problem. 

Has anyone got advise for me in this situation? I've exhausted all options, even reached out to RECC who lead me on for several weeks before telling me that the company signed up with them uses a different name to the one on the contract. Granted that was back in 2019 so things might have changed now. Could I potentially have a case regarding how the panels were installed? The panels in my opinion were installed too close to the guttering.

Thanks

Merlin139

You could always fit the buy and fit the guards yourself.

I have had panels for 12 years and about 6 years ago started getting squirrels building Drey's under my panels. I managed to remove 4 nests and dispose of the Kits over a couple of years. Unknown to me the squirrels were keeping the Pigeons away.

After a couple of years of the same problem as you I decided to get guards. I got quotes of between £1200 and £2000 For a 4 bed detached house.

I decided to do it myself. I had a 9 meter ladder so I could get onto the roof. I went on to Amazon and found what I needed. 30 meters of Black PVC coated Mesh, 100 fixing clips, and clippers. Paid less than £100 for all of it.

Spent around 6 hours in all doing it. I did say to my wife at one point that I think she might have to call the Fire Brigade to get me down, but I completed it. 

The pigeons then moved across the road the the next house with panels. After about 3 months 6 houses within 300 meters of my house had installed guards. The one house that didn't has had the pigeons since. 

I did get the pigeons coming back to stand at the top of the roof for a few weeks. I then invested in an air horn that I would go blast out of the window at odd times. Problem solved after a week. I did warn the neighbours that I would be sounding it at various times for a couple of weeks.

QrizB

I agree with Merlin above.

ASG aren't going to do anything and you're unlikely to get anywhere with a civil claim.

Either get someone to fit bird netting (some forumites have had this done for £4-500) or, if you're comfortable working at height, DIY it.

Martyn1981

Merlin139 said:

The pigeons then moved across the road the the next house with panels. After about 3 months 6 houses within 300 meters of my house had installed guards. The one house that didn't has had the pigeons since. 

Gotta ask, did the other 6 houses make use of your skills, nice little business opportunity? Or was the one roof based adventure enough?

I did replace 3 power optimisers on my main roof, via the velux window, using a safety harness and lanyard, ...... that was 'interesting'.