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Original poster

Seller can’t provide paper work for solar panels

83 replies

Longqueue · 01/08/2019 18:47

I wonder if anyone has any answers to this... we are getting close to exchange on a house with solar panels. The panels were installed by the vendors parents (probate sale) and are apparently owned (I’ve seen paperwork relating to the FiT). The vendors can’t seem to provide any other papers relating to the panels, no installation receipts, documents or guarantees. The vendor can’t even tell me when they were installed, they keep changing their mind about the dates. Originally they said 2011, the energy company paperwork says 2012, but now the vendor says pre-2006. I’m unwilling to exchange without a resolution to this issue - I’ve read horror stories about not being able to get the FiT transferred without proof of ownership. I’m also wondering how they can actually sell something if they can’t prove they own it. The only resolution I can see is to remove the panels (at their expense/by knocking the price down). Any other ideas?

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Original poster
Longqueue · 01/08/2019 18:48

Oh and the company who apparently installed them has been dissolved

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Original poster
Longqueue · 01/08/2019 20:20

Anyone?

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Jem01 · 01/08/2019 20:33

Can you get an indemnity policy for them and request they pay for this? Go through your solicitor to make arrangements

Original poster
Longqueue · 01/08/2019 20:41

The indemnity would only cover them breaching planning constraints or covenants. This is more fundamental in that they can’t prove to me that they actually own them/paid for them (beyond what they say, and that southern electric think that they do). And so I wouldn’t be able to prove that I own them

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Jackyjill6 · 01/08/2019 21:21

Could you get something in writing from Southern Electric?

whatsthecomingoverthehill · 01/08/2019 21:28

If they can show that they are getting paid the feed in then is that not sufficient evidence of ownership? I've not heard of 3rd party schemes that don't keep the FiT. And i would have thought they could ask SE for the paperwork originally sent in of you want further proof.

Making them remove them or similar seems a bit crazy given that you will be saving a fair bit on your electricity bill. I can't see that it is a significant risk. Only problem is if your mortgage company wants anything more detailed.

Original poster
Longqueue · 01/08/2019 21:45

I’ve read a couple of horror stories on the MSE forum about people not being able to transfer the FiT without proof of ownership. I absolutely believe that they do own them, but they have no paperwork for them, nothing about when they were installed or who installed them. They can’t even tell me which year

And while in theory they would have been installed by a competent and qualified person I can’t prove that either, so if the roof collapsed (unlikely) I would wonder about whether my insurance could challenge how they were installed.

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Original poster
Longqueue · 01/08/2019 21:45

Removal does seem drastic but it’s one of a number of possibilities if we run into issues.

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whatsthecomingoverthehill · 01/08/2019 22:22

I guess what I'm wondering is why would it be such a horror story if you can't transfer the FiT? Annoying I realise, but the only major problems I've heard about are if they are owned by a 3rd party. Maybe your solicitor can draft something explicitly transferring ownership? I know that might not help with the FiT but it would stop the sellers retrospectively trying to claim they still own them.

But I really would recommend enquiring of SE. When we had ours installed we had to send all sorts of documents to the energy company.

Original poster
Longqueue · 01/08/2019 22:40

If we can’t transfer the FiT into our names we can’t profit from them. So they become pointless ornaments to us. Some providers seem to want to see paid invoices as proof of ownership but the sellers don’t have this. Or any other paperwork Confused

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Original poster
Longqueue · 01/08/2019 22:42

The boiler is lacking a gas safe certificate and was illegally installed (has been fixed by our plumber) so I guess I’m just concerned that the person who did the panels may also be incompetent.

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whatsthecomingoverthehill · 01/08/2019 22:53

But they're not useless when they're still supplying you with electricity. Not trying to be funny or anything, but i do think you seem to be slightly over reacting.

Alislia17 · 02/08/2019 04:48

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

Original poster
Longqueue · 02/08/2019 06:52

They won’t supply us with energy if we can’t get it changed into our names though. Which we may not be able to do because nobody has any paperwork to show that they are owned

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Original poster
Longqueue · 02/08/2019 07:13

Unless I’ve misunderstood and it’s the surplus that goes into the grid for payment. But even then, we are out of the house for most of the working week so not sure how much use they are without the FiT

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DustyD2 · 02/08/2019 07:45

I wouldn't spend a penny more on the house until they have all the paperwork in place. There are many horror stories about solar panels, where essentially the roof is now owned by the company that installed them, not by you. You may not be able to get a mortgage in some cases. It would be a deal breaker for me. Good luck

Bluntness100 · 02/08/2019 07:52

This is a major deal and can make a house unmortgageable. And as such you would not be able to sell it on.

Either they provide the paperwork or you need to pull out. Most of these were put in via a lease scheme, and in return the homeowner got free day time electricity,,, and the leasing out of the roof is what causes it to be unmortgageable.

If they can't prove it, neither will you be able to, and anyone trying to buy your home will pull out. As you should be doing. I'm sorry, but this is a major deal.

Bluntness100 · 02/08/2019 08:05

But they're not useless when they're still supplying you with electricity. Not trying to be funny or anything, but i do think you seem to be slightly over reacting

If anything she is under reacting. These panels if you cannot prove ownership make a house unmortgageable. Most of the companies who installed them have went bust. Really you need to at least read up on this before you post if you don't have a clue.

Original poster
Longqueue · 02/08/2019 08:20

Thanks @Bluntness, I don’t think I’m overreacting either. And my solicitor is with me in my corner. The vendor thinks we are overreacting I think. The mortgage company seem happy that they are owned, but I’m concerned that could change. I don’t actually believe that they are not owned, but I don’t think I can take the risk on them without paperwork. It’s a big house, it’s an insane (but affordable for us) mortgage. There is an MCS installation number, I wonder if getting hold of the certificate (if there is one) would help. But I’m also up for them paying for removal and repair of the roof

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MarieG10 · 02/08/2019 08:22

I now understand why friends buying houses are having so many problems if there are solar panels fitted. A friend had an application with an advisor who let out a large sigh of despondency when she said yes, it has solar panels. He said 'that wasn't the answer I was hoping for'

Bluntness100 · 02/08/2019 08:25

It's in the vendors favour to say you're over reacting.

Why does the mortgage company believe they are owned? From what you've written there is nothing to show this other than the vender saying they are, which clearly they would say?

Original poster
Longqueue · 02/08/2019 08:26

@MarieG10 yes it’s a huge issue. In our case it shouldn’t be. They bought and paid for them. But for some reason (and it’s a probate sale) the paperwork can’t be found. Having solar panels in and of itself isn’t an issue, but the issue is caused by other houses having lease schemes which means that someone else has rights to the roof for many many years (25 usually). And nobody has any idea what that really means.

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Original poster
Longqueue · 02/08/2019 08:28

I don’t know why the mortgage company think they are owned other than having been told by the solicitor that they are. Maybe the FiT document is enough for them? But I’m concerned that proof of ownership is not simple for panels and nothing could stop someone making a claim to them if I can’t prove that they are mine

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Original poster
Longqueue · 02/08/2019 08:31

The house is perfect (or has the potential to be with some work), the location is very good, quiet, leafy, same school catchment. Big garden with reasonably busy road nearby (100m away through dense trees, heard but not seen) which is the only sticking point. Apart from this other issue

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Petitprince · 02/08/2019 08:39

Are they receiving FiT payments? Do they have statements? It might be an Avenue to go down in your detective work?