Would having solar panels on a house roof put you off buying it?

[stripeyknickersspottysocks]

We're thinking of getting some fitted where the company installs them free of charge. This company own the panels but you get free electricity. It estimates that energy bills will be halved, any excess elec that you don't use goes back into the national grid which is where the company make all the money. They do all the maintenence, etc.

Website is here and they have lots of FAQ and I can't see any drawbacks apart from the fact they look ugly. Was worried it may put off potential buyers in the future but my brother reckons people would be more likely to buy a house with this.

www.ashadegreener.co.uk/our-installations/

LOL DH and I have just had the exact same conversation.

It wouldn't stop me but I would be more cautious.

This company was in the Sunday Times this week.

i think it would be a plus point really. plenty of houses ound here have them - seems criminal shame for the roof to get all hot and waste that energy!

Just to warn you they (ashadegreener) have been flooded with enquiries after having been featured on working lunch and are very picky. They won't consider you unless your roof faces due south and is not shaded by anything. Also things such as skylights etc are a problem. The roof space has to be BIG to maximise their profit.

Know this since they came out to our property last week having assessed us using google earth. We were rejected because there is a tree which casts a shadow over a small part of our roof for a short period in the late afternoon

i think they look quite nice

Not at all, all the new houses around here are being built with them installed. I think it's a plus, rather than a negative.

I would actually be more tempted though I prefer to buy outright and get the grid returns myself
probably more worth the money in the long run

I think it would be quite the opposite - comparing two similar houses, say, I'd opt for the one with the solar panels.

I'd go for the one with the solar panels too. I don't think they're ugly and when the price goes down we're all going to have them (imo)

Our house faces south west, slightly more south. So maybe they wil say no. Very big roof though. Good to know that most people not pull off though.

I live in a tenement (so companies like this wouldn't be interested) and often think that if the housing association got their act together our roofs would be perfect for solar panels. Nothing overlooking them as they're so high up, south(ish) facing and not in view of most people, again because of the height.

Roofs? Rooves? Both look wrong

It would be a selling point for me.

Do you need planning permission for solar panels?

Yes, you do in conservation areas. And presumably in AONB and national parks and so on. And on listed buildings, I guess.

But not on other homes?

Would be a plus for me.

Not sure - I live in a conservation area so only know about the rules round here.

Bizarre as my street is full of unattractive 1970s houses but it's still part of the conservation area so the council get as arsy with my neighbours as they do with those in lovely Victorian or Edwardian houses. Planners objected to my neighbour's proposed extension 'because the street scene benefits from blandness'. Nice put down! Tried to insist they put a flat roof on instead of pitched 'because it's more 70s' although the whole street was built with pitched roofs...

I've been tempted to do this. Has the change of government changed anything?

It would be a plus for me if buying. As someone above said, it's the way we'll all be going.

Probably seal the deal for me.

another one here who would be more pro than con

Pro not con.

Definitely a pro rather than a con.