Solar Panels

[paddywak]

We received a phone call today from a friend who has just had these fitted. The rep asked him if he could tell him of any people who could benefit from,the main requirement being a South facing roof of a minimum size . Frank was a bit reluctant to give names but agreed to let people know and pass on the phone number of the rep.It seems a good deal, you don't pay anything, they install, insure and maintain them for the next 25yrs. You get electricity during the day and they sell any extra back to the Grid. As I said it seems a good deal but is it as good as it sounds?

[funnygirl]

I think one half of my roof is south facing. To be honest I don't know much about the benefits of solar panels.
Firstly, don't you need sun???

[rockyracoon]

Be careful, in some cases, they rent the roof and if you want to sell the house, prospective buyers have to agree to honour the remaining time on the contract. I'll try to find the website where I found this, I looked it up as we had a flier though the door a while ago and I thought it seemed too good to be true.

[ubasses]

Friends who have had for some months now say they work well, but they paid for their's, get free electricity and when there is excess paid by the grid. The problem in getting them for free I would imagine would come if you decide to sell as your roof is rented out so the new owners would have to want to continue with the arrangement.

You only seem to need a bright day, not a lot of sun.

[paddywak]

Apparently not, obviously the brighter the light the better but as long as there is a certain amount of light the type of panels they use nowadays will work at a reasonably high level.

[woofgang]

You also need a strong enough roof...seriously, roofs weren't designed to have solar panels on and you have to be sure that the roof will bear the weight.

[shaneystar2]

My brother looked into this paddywak but decided against it as the Government have slashed the subsidies .Have a read
http://www.thisismone...tariff-confirmed.html

[gness]

I listened to a radio programme recently about people who had been unable to sell their houses after having this done because some companies won`t approve a mortgage if the roof is rented out. I typed solar panels and mortgage and it seems to still be an issue.

[Ann]

I have heard there is a serious "catch" to this - what would the installation company get out of it. Nobody gets anything for nothing these days.

[naomi24]

You don't pay anything and they install, insure and maintain them for the next 25 years and we presume they are recovering all that money, including the rep's wages, from the electricity they sell back to the grid? Unless I have misunderstood that, something doesn't ring quite true here.

[boxtops]

Beware, this can happen.. http://www.thisismone...em-selling-house.html

[hc4361]

You're right, Naomi, but now the government has slashed the price paid for electricity I can't see these free schemes lasting much longer.

[buildersmate]

The Government slashed the subsidy because the price of the solar panels became slashed as the volume being manufactured in China went up massively.
The real people gaining were those who installed in the early part of 2012 on reduced purchased prices but who still got the enhanced subsidy.
Even with the reduced subsidy that now applies, this is still a good rate of return on the investment if you buy the panels.
What is not a good idea is this scheme where you don't pay anything upfront but you commit to renting your roofspace for 25 years. You may well find it difficult to sell the property or its value is reduced. Not worth the risk of that.

[boxtops]

Also http://www.brachers.c...mortgaging-your-house

[hc4361]

BM, only if you know you are not going to move for the next 20 years or so.

[paddywak]

Frank was saying before they do any work a survey is carried out, at no cost, to check the roof is suitable, also according to their brochure which Frank has lent me the answer to question 5 of the most FAQ is
No we DON'T[i own your roof and you [i]CAN] sell your property at any time without our permission
They also state that you are not tied into a personal agreement for 25 years and that the lease is tied to the house not the owner and a new owner buys the house with the lease and panels included with no additional agreements to be signed. I've read through the brochure and it just seems to good to be true

[woofgang]

Hmmm, what if the new owner doesn't want the contract?

[hc4361]

Exactly, paddywak, you have to find a buyer who has a mortgage company that is happy to give a mortgage on a property with a leased roof.

[owdhamer]

Any source of "green" energy has to be good,but our climate is not 100% suited to Solar Panels, Wind Turbines despite all the opposition are ideal, and no i dont want one

[paddywak]

Again according to the FAQ's they state they have written confirmation that from all the main Mortgage providers that having their system installed would not be a reason to stop a person re-mortgaging or a new buyer raising a mortgage to buy, giving the e-mail of a solicitor to confirm this. I just hope somebody with personal experience might see this and add some info

[naomi24]

Personally, with so much in doubt, I would simply say no. You know the old saying .... if it seems too good to be true, it usually is.