Free solar panels – has anyone got them?
I own/manage around 40+ properties in the East Midlands and South Yorkshire areas. I’ve heard of free solar panels a few years ago, and made enquiries, but they could not answer my questions about maintenance, insurance, etc, and they had extremely restrictive criteria for installation (e.g. roof direction and inclination), so I gave up considering it for my properties at that time.
However, technology has moved on, as have the deals available (and companies providing this), and I’ve now found that I can get free solar panels installed on the roofs of both domestic and commercial premises, where the cost is zero, I would get 50% off the electricity grid tariff, AND the maintenance and insurance is free of charge for 20 years. (Alternatively I can buy the panels and benefit from the feed in tariff).
The free solar panels appear to be a great deal, and offering tenants half price electricity is a big incentive so would attract more potential tenants (great in hard to let areas, or with hard to let properties). So I wondered if any landlords had any recent experience of getting free solar panels, and if so what have been the difficulties or drawbacks?
Many thanks
Robert
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Previous Article
New Buy to Let product range and 80% from Aldermore
Member Since September 2013 - Comments: 154 - Articles: 1
9:20 AM, 24th July 2015, About 11 years ago
Member Since July 2013 - Comments: 233
9:29 AM, 24th July 2015, About 11 years ago
Yo=u can only ask them and see. I would do this before you formally apply if there are fees attached to the product as I know some lenders will just not accept it if there is a charge on the property.
Member Since September 2013 - Comments: 154 - Articles: 1
10:03 AM, 24th July 2015, About 11 years ago
Member Since July 2013 - Comments: 233
10:17 AM, 24th July 2015, About 11 years ago
Many people will just sign up and never look at the implications. It is only when they try to move that it will hit them!
Member Since July 2015 - Comments: 5
7:10 AM, 26th July 2015, About 11 years ago
I would be extremely wary. We had free solar panels fitted to our property which included a 25 year lease for the airspace above the roof. Fitted by a reputable company.
We did not have a mortgage so did not have to obtain permission from a lender.
We are now trying to sell the property and have had two buyers drop out due to being unable to obtain a mortgage as the lenders consider it is leasehold.
It is an ex authority, 2 bed house with half an acre. Built in the 1960’s,
These sales have now been ongoing for six months.
Member Since October 2015 - Comments: 148 - Articles: 1
9:07 PM, 10th March 2016, About 10 years ago
I’m constructing an extension to my home currently, and would like to get some advice on solar panels to a flat roof area.
Can anyone recommend a reliable company?