Solar panels

[SpecialHandsMummy]

We've put in an offer on a house which has "rent a roof" solar panels. Our surveyor highlighted that there may be a problem in relation to getting a mortgage. Can anyone share their experience of buying/selling a house with such panels?

A common problem is the additional weight the panels add to the roof. I think a Building Regs application is required and structural engineer needs to assess roof structure to ascertain whether it can take the additional weight before they are installed. Maybe the vendor has not had Building Regs approval and Surveyor is concerned about overloading the roof structure.

It is fairly unlikely that the installing company fitted panels which are not adequately supported. They will be aware of the cost of repair.

have a look at the terms of the agreement. the owning company probably has to maintain the panels and inverter. The house occupier might get the benefit of a bit of free electricity.

You may have a problem with the mortgage because in effect another company has a charge on the property with relation to the solar panels. Mortgage companies don't like this as if it came to circumstances where they had to repossess another party would have rights over the roof which means they couldn't fully realise their asset.
It's more common now though so some companies can deal with it however you may find some won't.