Buying a house with solar panels

[MummyFoxy]

We are in the relatively early stages of buying a house, and it's got solar panels. When we viewed the house, we loved it, and when the estate agent told us there were also solar panels (this wasn't noted on the property details), we were even happier as we were thinking "free electricity".
However, now the solicitors are doing their thing and it's becoming clear that this could be a bit of a minefield. The lady we are buying from thinks she owns the panels, but our solicitor has found the original lease for the roof space (signed with the people who owned the house before her, I can't believe she didn't know this, but anyway...). The lease runs until 2037. It's with a company called A Shade Greener. A quick google search suggests to me these people are dodgy, and the company might actually have gone bust?!
Basically I'm wondering if anyone has been in this situation themselves, and/or had any dealings with a Shade Greener, and does anyone have any advice?
I think this is going to be a head and heart thing. We love the house, but my head is telling me to back away now... 😔
Many thanks!

I don't know anything about leased solar panles but the company seems to be doing OK. They post a pre-tax profit of just over £1 million last year according to their entry in Companies House

you could try asking the company if they own the panels, what are the terms.

I'd have thouht there would be a charge recorded at the Land Registry and you'd have to get their consenr (possibly pay a fee) to buy the house.

If not, maybe they sold the panels to the homeowner? Or some other investment co? I'd be happy to buy a house that included ownership of panels, but relectant to buy a house where somebody else owned part of it and had rights of access and maintenance.

I come across A Shade Greener frequently at work (conveyancing solicitor). They will have a lease registered on a leasehold title to the roof of the house. So no need to get their consent to buy.

The lease should be compliant with standard lenders' requirements. If it isn't, your solicitor should ask them to do a deed of variation to correct it. A Shade Greener are always happy to do that.

Lender requirements here on pages 2-3: www.cml.org.uk/documents/template-letter-for-solar-pv-panels-in-england-wales/solar-panels-e-w-template-letter-version-3-2-october-2013.pdf

Thanks!

www.propertysaviour.co.uk/looking-to-sell-a-house-with-solar-panels/

We bought our house in 2014 and it had solar panels from A Shade Greener.

We were told by our solicitor that our mortgage provider Nationwide did raise this as a query, as like yours they are leased for 25 years (it was only 5 years into it).

But the solicitors must have provided them with sufficient reassurance as it all went through fine. We now enjoy free electric in the day, like you said it is a perk really!

Hopefully your purchase shouldn't be affected by this, as ours wasn't. Hope this helps!

Hello, we are in the early stages of buying a house that also has these leased panels. We already know the seller has to complete a deed of variation so the lease will comply to the CML. My solicitor has done this before recently with the same lease company so knows what needs to be done fortunately. Did anyone go ahead and buy a house like this and has there been any problems remortgaging??