Roofing works and solar installation

[SolarVie]

Hoping someone can help or advise. I would like to sign up with Octopus for their solar scheme and can pay for this outright, however I am worried I may have an issue with my roof - not sure what it is but there's evidence of a leak when it rains heavily, but I've no idea where it starts. The side of the house where the panels would go has a glass lean-to running alongside, so I am assuming they will need to put up scaffolding from the neighbour's garden over the wall and over the glass? Will they protect against breaking the glass below? If they find a hole or roofing issue while up there, will they tell me and would it mean they couldn't install? Or am I overthinking and they'll send someone out to check all of this before taking my £?

They have to send a surveyor out to check. Preferably with structural engineering qualifications to check that your roofing structure can take the weight. They will need to go into the roof to determine this and may notice holes etc.

They will advise on how the work will be carried out ie scaffolding etc

Can I just say that if you want to put scaffolding up in your neighbours garden that you ask now just in case he won't let you. I have read many threads on here about scaffolding issues!
We used an independent company for our solar panels and they had a roof survey done. A guy came and went on the roof. He filled in some bits and stuck down some loose tiles . When you have your survey tell them about the leak so they can fix it before the panels go on.

Thank you both, that's good to know.
Yes I'll check the neighbours will be ok with it - very awkward area to get to!

I thought they must do some sort of survey and it makes sense to get it all done at the same time.

Get the roof done first.

Ask around locally for a reputable roofing company and ask customers if they were satisfied

You will presumably need scaffolding and so you want to have the solar scheduled shortly after the roof, but allow a week's gap in case there is a delay due to weather or something. The neighbours need to be onside. Mine had the roofer do a small repair gir them which they liked. It is possible to have scaffolding bridging over your roof, but this may cost more. The roofer will know good scaffolders.

I had my gutters renewed as well. The roofer did them,

@PigletJohn Thank you. I don't know anyone who has had roofing works or can recommend anyone, as initially I was thinking it might be cheaper to get a roofer to install solar. Roofers seem to have a reputation in this area for not being very reliable which makes it doubly hard! I'll maybe ask some family run businesses in the area as some of them have multiple premises so must know someone!

Would it be cheaper or better to do it via a roofer or would you suggest sticking with the energy company to ensure it's all done in line with their needs?

I’d use the solar panel installers. There’s a lot of electrics involved. Roofers don’t do that

ours was done by the solar panel company

I would imagine she means to get the roofers to check over the roof, not install the solar panels!

Actually no I was thinking that maybe roofers now were trained in solar - I had imagined they must be asked about it a lot, but I know many might be reluctant to re-train.

Solar systems are installed by electricians who have learned how to climb up scaffolds. Not by roofers. It does not need to be an energy company, though their work should have a good guarantee and might be at a high price, but they might have a promotional offer running. You can get a quote from any electricity company who offers the service, you do not need to be an existing customer. I think I got mine from the NICEIC "find a local contractor" webpage as all electricians need to be members of an approval scheme. There are several others. I live in a small town and they came from the next town along. I found them more flexible and obliging than the energy company. When looking for a contractor, I usually suggest looking for somebody local, who has been in business and qualified for several years, so is not a beginner, and not a non-geographical or mobile number who might be an agent or itinerant. They are often independent traders with one or two employees and an apprentice, sometimes a family business of father and son or daughter or two brothers or sisters.

In the past I have seen energy saving schemes arranged by the local council, who negotiate a bulk rate with a reputable supplier. I have not seen any advertised recently.

Thank you for the suggestions. I've just checked NICEIC for tradespeople for Solar Panels (Power) in my area and there are 0 results, but that was a good idea. I suspect the ones I see popping up are connected to utility companies.

I think the survey is the first port of call so I'll make sure the energy company does that before installation.

There are some other Competent Person schemes, such as NAPIT, but I am less familiar with them. It might vary with where you are. I wonder if Solar Installations have got less popular?

More about the schemes on www.gov.uk/guidance/competent-person-scheme-current-schemes-and-how-schemes-are-authorised

And this is (IMO) interesting

My NDN had scaffolding put up, in preparation for having solar panels, at the beginning of July.
The day Octopus came to fit the panels, they realised that the roof wasn't structurally sound enough for the panels.
This resulted in them having to have a brand new roof.

The solar panels are being installed as i type.
Its taken a while to get it sorted.

The scaffolding goes over their conservatory, the scaffolders have protected the conservatory with lots of boarding and some of the scaffold is in my garden but is not intrusive.

This is what I fear @AAudreyHorne although I suspect it will be one patch as the roof is generally fine, just the leak from above this hard to reach spot. It worth getting done before it gets worse and my hope is that both can be done with one lot of scaffolding. I do worry as the neighbours have their outside table right by the lean-to on my side but I hope the access can be from the front of my house so we don't have to use their side access.

Thanks for the Competent Persons info @PigletJohn - will look at that this afternoon.