I bought my property in July 2020 - it’s a semi-detached barn conversion. It had solar panels installed as part of the development (I am the first owner and purchased from the developers). I did not receive any documentation for the solar panels in my purchase paperwork. Having not had solar panels before I was not aware that they needed any particular certification etc; they were mentioned in the building compliance sign-off and quite honestly I gave it no further thought. Not long after moving in, the company who installed the solar panels came and changed the solar meter so we (my neighbour and I) could export to the grid. I think this was at my neighbour’s request, certainly not mine.
For various reasons and none, I didn’t try to register the panels under the SEG at that time. I had various thoughts of doing so over the years, but couldn’t find my MCS certificate so it just slipped by. I contacted the company who installed the panels to request a copy of the certificate, but they never got back to me and I didn’t chase it further. My neighbour - who does have a MCS certificate, said that they hardly got any money anyway.
Fast forward to a week ago and in conversation with my new neighbours, they are actually getting a reasonable payment for their energy. I decided to pursue this with more vigour. To cut a long story short, a MCS certificate was never issued for my property and the installation was never registered with the DNO. I have spoken to the installers, who said they are sure it was registered etc and to leave it with them and they’d look into it. I know it has not - I have contacted both MCS and National Grid.
Basically, I want to be able to export - I’m not too worried about what should have happened, just how to rectify it now. I thought I might have some recourse with my conveyancing solicitors, who should have ensured the correct certification/paperwork was obtained. Google (AI) is talking about a professional negligence claim, which is a path I really don’t want to go down. Ideally I would like them to chase the installers to make a late certification and DNO registration. I am hoping it’s just an administrative error on the part of the installers, given all certification was obtained for the other half of the property. The other option is to get a bit heavier with the installation company, who being regulated should presumably have their own compliance requirements.
Apologies for length of post, but does anyone have any ideas as to how to proceed? Time has become of the essence as the six years to raise issues with the solicitor is up at the end of July.