Homeowners · 4 min read · Updated 6 November 2026
Buying a house with solar panels? 10 checks before you exchange
Check 1: Owned outright or a roof lease
This is the most important question. Many homes had panels fitted under free solar schemes, mainly between about 2010 and 2015, where a company installed panels in return for a lease of the roof space, often lasting 20 to 25 years. The company usually keeps the Feed-in Tariff payments and the homeowner gets the free electricity.
Roof leases can affect what you can do with the roof and some mortgage lenders have specific requirements for them. Your conveyancer should check the lease terms and whether your lender will accept it. If the seller owns the panels outright, they are normally treated as part of the property.
Checks 2 to 4: The paperwork
- Check 2: The MCS certificate, which shows the system was installed by a certified installer and is often needed for export payments
- Check 3: An electrical installation certificate or building regulations compliance certificate for the work
- Check 4: Panel, inverter and workmanship warranties, plus any insurance-backed guarantee and whether it transfers
If documents are missing, ask the seller to obtain copies from the installer or the relevant scheme. Your conveyancer may raise these as enquiries.
Check 5: Feed-in Tariff and export payments
The Feed-in Tariff closed to new applicants in 2019, but existing installations can continue to receive payments for the rest of their tariff term, which is often 20 or 25 years from registration. If the seller owns the system, the right to these payments can usually be transferred to the new owner by contacting the FiT licensee, the energy supplier that pays the tariff. Newer systems may instead use the Smart Export Guarantee, which you would set up with your own chosen export supplier.
| Payment type | What to ask the seller |
|---|---|
| Feed-in Tariff | Who the FiT licensee is, the tariff rate and when payments end |
| Smart Export Guarantee | Which supplier they used and whether an export meter is fitted |
| Roof lease | Who receives the payments and how long the lease runs |
Check 6: Generation records
Ask for recent meter readings or a screenshot of the monitoring app showing a year or more of generation. Compare it with the installer's estimate. A big shortfall could mean a faulty inverter, damaged panels, shading or heavy soiling.
Also ask for recent electricity bills. These show how much the household imports from the grid and, alongside generation figures, give a realistic idea of the savings you might see. Remember that savings depend heavily on how much electricity is used during daylight, so a household that is out all day will save less than one working from home.
Checks 7 and 8: The inverter and the panels
- Check 7: Note the inverter age and make. Inverters often need replacing after 10 to 15 years, so an original inverter on an older system may be due
- Check 8: Look at the panels from the ground for cracked glass, slipped panels, heavy lichen or droppings, and loose cables
A general home survey may only note that panels are present. For a closer look, a solar installer can test the system and a cleaner can carry out a visual check from the ground.
Check 9: Pigeons and the roof underneath
Pigeons nesting under panels are common and can block gutters, foul the roof and make noise. Look for droppings on the roof, twigs in gutters and birds flying under the array. Also ask when the roof was last repaired. Roof work under panels usually means removing and refitting them, which adds cost.
If pigeons are present, ask whether the seller will arrange nest clearance and bird proofing before completion, or factor the cost into your offer. Proofing a typical domestic array usually costs around £300 to £800 including a clean. Nests with eggs or chicks are protected, so timing may affect when the work can be done.
Check 10: Batteries and add-ons
If there is a battery, ask for its warranty, age and capacity, and check whether the app account can be transferred to you. Ask whether any optimisers, diverters for hot water or EV chargers are linked to the system, and get the login details at completion.
On completion day, take a photo of the generation meter and any export meter readings. You will need these to transfer Feed-in Tariff payments or start a new export arrangement, and they give a clear starting point for your own records.
Frequently asked questions
Can a solar roof lease stop me getting a mortgage?
It can make it harder with some lenders. Many lenders have set requirements for leased roof solar panels, such as certain lease terms, and may decline if these are not met. Ask your conveyancer to check the lease early and confirm your lender's position before you commit to costs such as surveys, so you are not caught out near exchange.
Will the Feed-in Tariff payments transfer to me?
If the seller owns the system and it is registered for the Feed-in Tariff, payments can usually be transferred to you for the rest of the tariff term. You normally contact the FiT licensee with proof of ownership and a meter reading at completion. If the panels are under a roof lease, the leasing company usually keeps the payments.
Should I get the solar panels cleaned or checked before buying?
A full inspection is not always needed, but it is sensible on older systems or where generation records are poor. A solar installer can test the inverter and electrics, while a cleaner can do a visual check from the ground for damage and nesting. Ask the seller's permission and agree who pays.
buying a house conveyancing Feed-in Tariff roof lease
Related services
We cover 250 towns and cities, including Mansfield, Manchester, Salford, Leeds, Bradford, Newcastle upon Tyne.
