Schemes where companies supply home owners with free solar panels in return for the electricity generated and sold to the grid, appear to be a win/win situation for the installer and the home owner. But many people who want the benefit of the solar panel system may be put off by the possibility that their home may be more difficult to sell once the panels are in place.
The scheme itself is set to run for 25 years and is set in stone by government legislation. This means that getting free solar panels is a long term commitment. Any future sale of your property will need to include the solar panels and a continued commitment to the free scheme.
Companies which are offering the free panels are quick to point out that the benefits of having the panels far outweigh the negatives and that in fact, having the panels could add to the value of the home. However the following points need to be kept in mind if you think you are likely to sell your home during the term of the contract.
The new owner will be obliged to take on the solar panel scheme whether they want to or not. While the fact they will save on their bills will be an incentive for some, others may not like the idea.
The panels will permanently change the way your home looks. There are generally several panels used to generate as much electricity as possible, so the roof may be covered in them. This may put off some buyers.
On the plus side, the Energy Saving Trust has estimated that house prices for homes with renewable energy can be as much as 30% higher than those without. People will also pay more than £3000 for a home with a good energy efficiency rating.
Some companies offering free solar panels also sell the homes where they have made installations. In this way they are ensuring that only people who are interested in the scheme and in saving energy are buying the houses. This saves the homeowner from having to explain how it works.
It is worthwhile pointing out that this scheme is still in its infancy and that as it becomes more popular, the ethos behind it will become more commonplace. It will not be unusual in the future to come across homes for sale which have solar panels installed. It is simply an issue which a real estate agent and a conveyancer needs to make clear. Schemes where companies supply home owners with free solar panels in return for the electricity generated and sold to the grid, appear to be a win/win situation for the installer and the home owner. But many people who want the benefit of the solar panel system may be put off by the possibility that their home may be more difficult to sell once the panels are in place.
The scheme itself is set to run for 25 years and is set in stone by government legislation. This means that getting free solar panels is a long term commitment. Any future sale of your property will need to include the solar panels and a continued commitment to the free scheme.
Companies which are offering the free panels are quick to point out that the benefits of having the panels far outweigh the negatives and that in fact, having the panels could add to the value of the home. However the following points need to be kept in mind if you think you are likely to sell your home during the term of the contract.
The new owner will be obliged to take on the solar panel scheme whether they want to or not. While the fact they will save on their bills will be an incentive for some, others may not like the idea.
The panels will permanently change the way your home looks. There are generally several panels used to generate as much electricity as possible, so the roof may be covered in them. This may put off some buyers.
On the plus side, the Energy Saving Trust has estimated that house prices for homes with renewable energy can be as much as 30% higher than those without. People will also pay more than £3000 for a home with a good energy efficiency rating.
Some companies offering free solar panels also sell the homes where they have made installations. In this way they are ensuring that only people who are interested in the scheme and in saving energy are buying the houses. This saves the homeowner from having to explain how it works.
It is worthwhile pointing out that this scheme is still in its infancy and that as it becomes more popular, the ethos behind it will become more commonplace. It will not be unusual in the future to come across homes for sale which have solar panels installed. It is simply an issue which a real estate agent and a conveyancer needs to make clear. Schemes where companies supply home owners with free solar panels in return for the electricity generated and sold to the grid, appear to be a win/win situation for the installer and the home owner. But many people who want the benefit of the solar panel system may be put off by the possibility that their home may be more difficult to sell once the panels are in place.
The scheme itself is set to run for 25 years and is set in stone by government legislation. This means that getting free solar panels is a long term commitment. Any future sale of your property will need to include the solar panels and a continued commitment to the free scheme.
Companies which are offering the free panels are quick to point out that the benefits of having the panels far outweigh the negatives and that in fact, having the panels could add to the value of the home. However the following points need to be kept in mind if you think you are likely to sell your home during the term of the contract.
The new owner will be obliged to take on the solar panel scheme whether they want to or not. While the fact they will save on their bills will be an incentive for some, others may not like the idea.
The panels will permanently change the way your home looks. There are generally several panels used to generate as much electricity as possible, so the roof may be covered in them. This may put off some buyers.
On the plus side, the Energy Saving Trust has estimated that house prices for homes with renewable energy can be as much as 30% higher than those without. People will also pay more than £3000 for a home with a good energy efficiency rating.
Some companies offering free solar panels also sell the homes where they have made installations. In this way they are ensuring that only people who are interested in the scheme and in saving energy are buying the houses. This saves the homeowner from having to explain how it works.
It is worthwhile pointing out that this scheme is still in its infancy and that as it becomes more popular, the ethos behind it will become more commonplace. It will not be unusual in the future to come across homes for sale which have solar panels installed. It is simply an issue which a real estate agent and a conveyancer needs to make clear.
Do Free Solar Panels Make It Harder to Sell a Home?
