There may be a buy out clause.
Buying a house with leased solar panels uk.
Fully owned solar panels.
Anyone buying a house with leased solar panels should ensure the contract complies with the minimum requirements laid down by the council of mortgage lenders.
Sometimes leases contain buy out clauses meaning the new owner can buy their way out of the lease.
In most cases where solar panels were installed the panels were fitted free of charge by a solar power company.
With the rise in popularity of solar panels in recent years many homes are now being sold with solar panel installations on the roof.
However solar panels are still relatively expensive to buy outright see below so many people in preference opt to lease out their roof space to solar panel companies to install the panels normally for 25 years they may also buy a property where the roof space has been leased out in this way.
All names have been changed topics.
As a buyer certainly shouldn t be put off buying a property with solar panels however if the panels lack the mcs accreditation or were installed as part of a rent a roof scheme we would be very cautious.
Before you buy you ll want to find out more information about the lease terms.
The main factor which determines whether you will experience problems getting a mortgage is whether the solar panels are leased or owned by the previous resident.
If the house you are interested in has a leased solar energy system it means that the current homeowner sends a monthly payment to the company that installed the panels.
We want to sell but the buyer s preferred lender won t lend on properties with leasehold panels.
The homeowner then leased the panels to the power company usually for a 25 year term.
The buy out premium is usually the cost of the installation typically 10 15k plus a premium.
The homeowner will have leased the panels from the solar power company usually for a 25 year term who then has the right to the feed in tariff payments.
The homeowner enjoys low energy bills plus the prospect of the feed in tariff after.
Homeowners had two options.
If you are planning on buying a house with solar panels.
Buying a house with solar panels in a lease ppa.
Our final thoughts on buying a house with solar pv.
While solar panels are very beneficial in reducing energy costs and providing a sustainable source of energy for your home the presence of solar panels can have an impact on the conveyancing process.
We would certainly seek legal advise if this is the case just to see where you stand.
Many homes fitted with solar panels will have had them installed free of charge by a solar power company.
Get your solicitor to look at the solar panel lease before you make an offer.
