Posted: Thursday, September 30, 2021

Buying a House with Solar Panels

According to industry figures, approximately 900,000 British homes have solar photovoltaic (PV) panels installed. If you are looking to buy a house, there’s every chance that you will come across properties that have a solar roof installation. 

 

The benefits of using solar panels

The benefits of owning a house with solar panels are certainly not to be sniffed at. You can look forward to lower electricity bills since you will be using free solar power generated by the property and therefore be protected against future rises in energy prices. In fact, according to The Independent, solar panels could save you up to £1,190 every year, almost £30,000 over the lifespan of your panels.

The reduced environmental impact will deliver a better energy efficiency rating (EPC) for the property, and you may benefit from an extra income stream for the surplus power sold back to the grid.

That said, while the advantages in terms of free electricity and a lower carbon footprint are undeniable, all may not be as straightforward as it seems. Here are some key questions you should be asking before buying a house with an existing solar array. 

How big is the solar PV installation? 

First off, you can calculate the size of the solar array by counting the number of panels on the roof and multiplying by 250 watts (the typical output per panel) to give you an idea of how much free renewable electricity is being produced.

For instance, 10 panels would give you a 2.5kW system. Multiply this number by 90% to get an estimate of the amount of electricity the system produces per hour – in this case, 2.25kWh. You may need to adjust these figures depending on the location of the panels – their direction and position on the roof can have a large effect on their output, with south and west-facing roof installations being most efficient. 

Who installed the panels on the roof? 

One of the key factors to check is whether the installation was carried out by an MCS-approved solar installer. The Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) is a nationally recognised quality assurance scheme that gives you the peace of mind of a job well done. The MCS certificate will also show that the installed panels were rigorously tested to satisfy European and international standards.

However, the main reason for only considering MCS-approved solar PV installations is that without this approval, the property is ineligible for payments under the government schemes, whereby you get paid for exporting solar power to the grid. 

When was the solar array installed? 

The age of the existing system will determine how much power you will receive. Back in 2010, the government heavily promoted the use of solar power for domestic properties by introducing the Feed-in-Tariff (FIT), initially set at a generous rate of 41.3p/kWh, enabling the owner of the solar panels to get paid for the electricity exported to the grid for a set period of 25 years. Two years later, FIT rates were sharply reduced, and the scheme has now closed and been replaced by the Smart Export Guarantee incentive scheme.

Of course, knowing when the system was installed will also give you a rough idea of when you will need to replace the inverter which has an average lifespan of about 10-15 years, or indeed the entire system. Solar panels should be good for at least 20 years, and the most recent models have an expected lifespan of 40-50 years. 

Who actually owns the solar roof installation? 

Be cautious if the solar PV system is part of a Rent-a-Roof Scheme, popular in the early 2010s as a way to get solar panels installed for free. Under the scheme, the homeowner would be granted a lease (typically 25 years) to a third party allowing them access to their roof in return for a free installation and free use of solar power. Crucially, though, the homeowner would be required to sign over all FIT payments to the third party, while the lease may also contain maintenance obligations.

This lease will be binding on future owners, meaning that if you buy a property with a solar PV installation on such a scheme, you won’t be owning the panels. Not only is this likely to cause issues with your mortgage lender, but it also means that you cannot remove the panels, put in a roof extension or similar development until the lease has expired. 

 

Contact us 

Are you searching for your dream home? Start your search with The Guild today. 

 

Looking to buy?

Looking to buy?

We'd love to help you on your journey home.
Don't miss out on on the latest properties by registering for our property alerts.

Register with us today

Read What Our
Customers Say

I can't speak more highly of the team at Homesearch. When I met Michael to discuss the sale of my home instantly from that meeting, I could tell how knowledgeable they were. From that moment until closing, everything went absolutely flawless. This experience of selling went without a hitch with them giving great tips on preparing my home for viewings. Thank you. I really appreciate all your help during this process. I highly recommend Homesearch to any person who is looking to sell their home or buy a new home.

Loretta Barrett, Seller

I started with two very well known real estates, but I hated it. I was simply another number to them and I didn't feel they were honest and transparent. With HomeSearch I felt comfortable that they were on my side and they were always available to help. The process is hard enough, so having a team who supports you can make such a difference. Highly recommend.

Arian Barvarz, Seller

The reason we chose Homesearch to sell our property was that we liked the straightforward, no-nonsense approach of both Anna and Michael. They gave an honest appraisal of our property and a clear idea of what we could expect to sell it for. In fact, the offer we accepted exceeded our expectations. The sale took longer than we would have liked, due to delays caused by the buyers' solicitor, but Michael was tenacious and must have worn his phone out keeping everyone informed of progress.

Nicola Watson, Seller

Homesearch are hands down the best agent I have ever worked with ! The team helped me in an extremely complex sale. Without the knowledge and experience of the whole team, my sale would not have completed. I dont normally write reviews, only when they are truly deserved. An exceptional team! Very kind and personable, reliable & trustworthy.

Leslie John, Seller

My experience with Homesearch is that they are professional, friendly and go above and beyond to ensure that something stressful like selling a house runs as smoothly and stress free as possible. They work hard to get the results and have kept me updated throughout the process. I honestly could not recommend them enough, they are easily the best company I’ve dealt with in the buying/selling houses field. And to top it all off, they always answer the phone in the most pleasant tone and always provide service with a smile.

Chanelle Hunte, Seller

Homesearch are PROFESSIONALS. I sold my property through Homesearch and I have not dealt with a more competent agency. Every single person  dealt with knew exactly what they were talking about and I can tell that they all have knowledge in the industry and were not just picked up from the street. From the get go I was impressed and I will certainly do business with them again.

Paul Hobbs, Seller

Many thanks Homesearch for locating professional corporate tenants for my property. I am very happy with your property management service as you always ensure that the tenants give the property back in good order at check out. Five Stars!

Maria Foran, Landlord

I have been absolutely delighted with the exceptional service I have received from Homesearch. They have removed all the stress & hassle of renting my property and dealt with all manner of situations I would have struggled with in such a professional & courteous manner. They give valuable unbiased advice with such a wealth of experience. Nothing is ever too much trouble for the staff, who are always friendly & helpful. Homesearch let and managed my property and I am very happy with their property management services, they are very knowledgeable.

Paula Carter, Landlord

Homesearch always do what they say they will do. They are efficient and raise any issues early and provide options to resolve them. Homesearch is very  easy to get hold of and talk to, no matter where I am in the world! My property is well looked after, regarding tradesmen, replacement of items swiftly etc. with the minimum of fuss.

David Connells, Landlord

From our first viewing right through to the present, Home Search were brilliant. They helped make the whole process quick and stress free and even now we are in and settled, they are still happy to assist us with any queries we may have. We couldn't recommend them highly enough.

Julie Maney

Home Search helped us move into our new flat smoothly and Tim was always happy to provide help to put our nerves at ease. Arranging a viewing was easy and Home Search were happy to open after hours for us to sign the paperwork. They were very helpful and often would offer to help! Having moved in we received a lovely card and they have always been swift in communicating with Usif we have any questions. Would recommend it.

Will Houghton

Michael and his team were simply amazing!! They helped us to find the perfect house, offering a nice and attentive service from the beginning through to the end. Thank you so much!! 5 stars service. Highly recommended!!!

Giordana Sicali

Very helpful and friendly staff. Tim, Michael and the team Made the whole renting experience easier.

Amol Sinare

I had a very difficult situation as I did not have a guarantor and my dad was earning enough but was not a homeowner. It took a about 3 weeks but Michael sorted it all out in the end and my dad became my guarantor. I got a lovely home and all the staff were very helpful including Paris, Zainab and Tim. Thank you all very much! Would recommend them to anyone

Misti Chakraborty

On behalf of myself, Noa & Niamh, we would like to start off by saying a massive thank you for the amazing service Home Search Ltd provided us with, especially highlighting the work of Clorissa. Within a week we were able to sign, seal and move into the property that we looked at, all down to Clorissa's prompt and effective work ethic, which allowed us a smooth transition from one property to another, without her, this move would not of been possible to have happened within the time stamp that it did. We are very grateful for the work that was done by Home Search Ltd, highly recommend.

Lewis Francis
How Much is Your Property Worth?

Expert Valuation

We always come armed with evidence and statistics of why we are pricing your property a certain way. We know the importance of getting the initial price of your property right, first time. With our extensive experience we will also explain current market conditions as we want to get our sellers the best price.

What's more, get a free gift with your free expert valuation with one of our experienced Valuer's.

Book a Valuation