Seller can’t provide paper work for solar panels

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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?

I guess the fridge and freezer are always running. And washing machine and DW (house doesn’t currently have one ) can be set during the day.

Yes, without battery back up the electricity that you don't use goes into the grid. Many washing machines and dishwashers have timers built in now and plug in timers are available so you could use more of your day time generation. I don't know what the change of generator refers to but I doubt that changing the inverter would show up.on any paperwork. Changing the company that you are selling your electricity to might show up.though. I was with EDF when my panels were installed but I didn't change companies when I changed who supplied me.

Hi there! If the panels were supplied foc on a rent-a-roof scheme, the installer got the FiT and would be on the paperwork. If they were customer supplied, their name would be on the paperwork. As you have seen the FiT paperwork, it sounds like they are owner installed...as long ss the FiT is in their name, there is unlikely to be any issues. If the name on the FiT paperwork was not the householder, that would be entirely different. It's all down to the name. Good luck!

Thanks @Scotsbruce - do you know anything about the lifespan of solar panels? They have 14 years remaining on the FiT but are probably 15-20 years old already

When we had ours installed we were told that the inverter would last about 10 years and could then be replaced but the panels should work for 25 (though efficiency might decline a bit).

Easier said than done, but I'd just buy another house with fewer or even better, no, problems.

Generally, if they are not owned they are leased. If a lease is longer than 7 years it has to be registered at the Land Registry. Most solar leases are 20 or 25 years.

Your solicitor should have checked the title.

The local search will show the building regs compliance certificate for the installation. Get a copy of the MCS certificate as that will confirm the installer and you can then check if they are still around.

There are two ways the tariffs would swap (and they won't get the tariffs if they are leased). Some companies have a transfer of tariff form that they need the seller to sign. The other is them wanting proof of ownership, but from the seller to you which can be covered by adding a clause to the contract to confirm the solar panel are owned by the seller and are included in the sale.

I work for a company that install solar panels. The installers should have been part of a scheme such as MCS where they would notify of installation and issue an MCS certificate. The sellers should contact MCS if the installers were MCS approved they will direct them to who to contact to get a copy of the cert.

Solar panels last approx 25 years. There are much more efficient ones on the market now.

Inverters tend to last 6-8 years, unless you have a higher end one.

I work for a solar PV and thermal maintenance company.

Only the surplus electricity will go back to the grid (unless you have batteries)

There are solar panels that are over 40 years old that are still.working well. I think they are guaranteed to work at 80% efficiency or better after 20 years. Mine are working as well now as when they were installed in 2010.

Regarding using up the generated power during the day: my installation has a doohickey (technical term ) which switches on the immersion heater if we generate an excess. In summer we switch the gas boiler off completely, in winter it just warms the water tank a bit. It might be worth getting one installed if you don't have one.

Also, depending on which FiT you have, it doesn't measure how much you use. We have 'deemed usage', so it assumes we use 50% of what we generate. Tbh, although I understood it all when we moved in, I don't really need to know the details so I just send a meter reading a couple of times a year and then bank the cheque!

Hi All, thanks for weighing in, I appreciate the info you are all helping me with. So they are definitely owned and there is definitely an MCS document. I’ve instructed my solicitor to insist that they produce this (with instructions on how to get a replacement if theirs is lost).

Those of you who work for solar companies, any ideas on the following?

1. The cost of removing them (ballpark)?
2. Whether the panels could be replaced for newer ones and indicative costs

@ @Needcoffeeimmediatley

Why would uou wish to replace them if they are eighty to ninety percent effective?

The panels can be removed and replaced but the FIT scheme has now finished and will be replaced with a scheme that buys your unused electricity at just over 5p per kw. (not worth bothering with ) If you can get the FIT payments they will be something like 10% more than the starting tariff.

@Bluntness100 no idea! I’m just trying to work out what the full range of options might be. That one seems unfavourable but a few sources suggest that they might be reaching the end of their expected lifespan and I’m not sure what that means. Is it just that they’re less efficient, or do they just stop working suddenly, or are they dangerous e.g. in terms of fire? I have absolutely zero clue about solar panels but I’m learning

But then this looks like 2012? Which ties in with the feed in tariff? So maybe 2002 was a mistake...

I would be surprised if the solar panels were installed before 2012/2013. The FIT rate was to encourage householders to install solar panels - it was paid for a new install not already installed panels, as far as I was aware. Also, our PV meter is close to the normal electricity meter and we have an A4 schematic diagram on the wall showing all the components of the system and install date, installer etc. I think there is also an install date on the inverter which is in the loft in our case. Might be worth asking the vendors to physically check those details?

I'd be amazed if they where installed in 2002. All the paperwork you've shown is 2012/13 so they are no where near end of life.

We've got an immersun attached to ours so like the other poster any extra electric heats our hot water - we also switch our boiler off for the summer.

Removing them is not a request we've ever had before, I'd say approx £1,500.
There may be a disposal cost as well.

Cost to replace panels would be approximately £2,500 - £3,500 this would include panels, scaffold and labour.

Cost to replace inverter for a mid price bracket would be around £950, if you want a higher end could be as much at £1,800 - £2,000.

Scaffold price does vary wildly depending on where you are and how many scaffold companies are near by.

If you decide to keep them, have a look at solar iBoosts, they heat your hot water with excess power you've produced instead of dumping back onto the grid and they are only about £250 - our customers love them.

Hi, haven't read all the posts but have experienced both rented and owned solar panels.

1. we moved from a house that we had solar panels installed for free and the company got the FIT payments, your solicitor would (should) have come acorss paper work regarding the renting of the roof space to have the panels on, if they haven't they are more than likely owned.
2. The house we purchased has solar panels on and the guy was useless, we got very little if any paperwork. He may have had a few papers for panels but don't think so, anyhow, Get them to contact their FIT provider as they will have the details and maybe even copies of the paperwork they may be able to pass on.

Also the sellers need to complete some paperwork to pass the FIT payments on smoothly. When we purchased he didn't but we provided proof of purchase, got the solicitor to also confirm to them of purchase and they transferred the payments over. One other word of advice would be to get the panels checked over or at least ensure the inverter dosnt have any errors or errors in its logs, we didn't and its cost us £400+ getting it out right, and that's without the cost of scaffolding, don't let that put you off, we have made more in FIT payments.

I have owned solar panels installed in 2012. Te Feed in Tariff is paid for 25 years, so until 2037. The PV meter is read quarterly nd FIT payment made. Also the payment rate is index linked and increases on 1st April each year. Therefore the amount you get back increases each year. My inverter is in the loft as I understand most are. Power is generated in daylight so even if cloudy there will be some produced, but the sunnier it is the more will be produced. My panels cost £10,000 in 2012. Upto now I have had £7,800 back in FIT pents plus I have benefitted from much lower electricity bills. My system is still working very well. By 2037 I will have had far more back than I paid for the system.

They won't go bang or burst into flames. They are said to become less efficient but mine haven't so far. The inverter will fail eventually but it won't become dangerous so don't worry about that. Even if you can't get the FIT, they are generating electricity no cost and will cut down on your bills. It is nice to have a washing machine working and watching the electric meter not moving.

Honestly, you lot have made me feel an awful lot better about things. Yesterday we were at breaking point, unsure if we would continue with the purchase. We were being ‘difficult’ and ‘unreasonable’ in not accepting that them saying that they couldn’t find the paperwork and that was the end of the matter. I’m still none the wiser about when they were installed but hopefully this should become clear over the next week or so. I’m going to ask about the service history for the panels. And I’m absolutely not going to exchange until this is resolved

And I’m very lucky to have a solicitor who is keen to fight on this too. Other solicitors might have let this go but not her, she’s had to push back 3x on this