Business · 4 min read · Updated 6 November 2026

Solar panels on rental homes: cleaning and upkeep for UK landlords

Who is responsible for solar panels in a let property

In most cases the solar panels are a fixture belonging to the landlord, just like the roof they sit on. That means keeping them in safe working order is normally the landlord's job. A tenancy agreement can set out other arrangements, but it would be unusual and unwise to make a tenant responsible for anything that involves a ladder or the roof.

Leased roof schemes are different. Some properties have panels owned by a third party under a long roof lease. In that case the lease usually says who maintains the panels, and the landlord should check it before arranging any work.

Who benefits from the electricity and payments

Tenants normally get the benefit of the electricity the panels generate, because it reduces what they import through their own meter. Payments for exported or generated electricity usually go to whoever registered the system, which on an owned system is normally the landlord.

• Feed-in Tariff payments on older systems are paid to the registered owner of the installation
• Smart Export Guarantee payments are paid to the account holder registered with an export supplier
• If tenants hold the electricity account, export arrangements need agreeing in writing

Because the landlord often gets payments while the tenant gets lower bills, both have a reason to keep the panels clean and working.

Solar panels and EPC rules

Solar panels can improve a property's Energy Performance Certificate rating. For landlords this matters because the government has confirmed that privately rented homes will need to meet EPC band C by October 2030, with a cost cap of £10,000 per property for required improvements. Details are still being finalised, so check current government guidance before planning work.

An EPC assessment records that panels are present and their size, not how clean they are. Cleaning will not change your EPC score. What it can do is keep generation close to what the panels are capable of, which is what tenants actually feel in their bills.

A simple maintenance plan for landlords

• Record the panel make, inverter make, installer and warranty dates in your property file
• Ask tenants to report error lights on the inverter and any sign of pigeons
• Book a clean every one to two years, or yearly near trees, farmland, coasts or busy roads
• Combine the clean with a visual check for cracked glass, loose cables and nesting
• Arrange bird proofing early if pigeons are present, before nests and droppings build up
• Keep dated photos and notes of each visit

Many landlords time cleans to fall between tenancies or alongside routine inspections, so access is easier and there is a clear record of the panels' condition at each change of tenant.

Arranging access with tenants

Most domestic solar panel cleaning is done from the ground with water-fed poles, so the cleaner may only need access to the garden, side passage and an outside tap. Tenants do not usually need to be home. Give written notice, explain what will happen, and ask tenants to unlock side gates, move cars from directly below the array and keep pets indoors.

In HMOs and blocks with shared areas, agree access to communal gardens and parking with any managing agent. For flats and maisonettes with panels on a shared roof, the lease or management agreement usually decides who arranges and pays for cleaning.

Pigeons in let properties

Pigeons nesting under panels are a frequent complaint in rented homes, because tenants hear scratching and cooing and see droppings on paths and windowsills. Clearing nests and fitting mesh around the array is usually a one-off job and is often cheaper over a few years than repeated cleaning. Nests with eggs or chicks are protected by law, so work is normally timed for when nests are inactive.

Droppings that build up under and around the array can block gutters and downpipes, stain walls and make paths slippery. Tenants may also raise concerns about smell and hygiene. Dealing with it promptly helps you meet your repairing obligations and avoids disputes, and a dated record of the work is useful if the issue is raised later.

Budgeting for solar upkeep across a portfolio

For a typical rental house, a domestic clean usually costs around £80 to £180 and bird proofing a typical array around £300 to £800 including a clean. Landlords with several properties often save time by booking cleans for nearby homes on the same day and keeping one schedule for the whole portfolio.

• Set aside a small yearly amount per property for cleaning and checks
• Plan for an inverter replacement at some point, often after 10 to 15 years
• Keep invoices and reports together, as maintenance costs on a let property are usually an allowable expense against rental income
• Review export payments yearly to make sure they are still being paid to the right account

Check the tax treatment of any spending with an accountant, especially for improvements such as adding a battery, which may be treated differently from repairs and maintenance.

Frequently asked questions

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