My Solar Panel Company Has Gone Bust – What Do I Do?
If the company that installed, maintained or owned your solar panels has stopped trading, don't assume your solar system is now worthless — or that panels owned by someone else automatically become yours.
What happens next depends on whether you bought the solar panels yourself, have a rent-a-roof agreement, receive Feed-in Tariff payments, and what warranty or insurance protection came with the original installation.
First: Work Out What Relationship You Had With the Solar Company
A solar company going out of business can mean very different things for different homeowners.
The company may simply have installed solar panels that you own. Alternatively, it may actually own the panels under an older rent-a-roof agreement. It could also have provided a workmanship warranty, maintained the system, or received Feed-in Tariff income.
Before deciding what to do, establish exactly what role the failed company played.
Which Situation Are You In?
I Bought My Solar Panels
If you paid for the system and own it outright, the original installer disappearing does not normally change your ownership of the equipment. You may need another solar contractor for future servicing and repairs.
The Panels Were Installed Free
If you received free solar under an older scheme, a third party may own the panels and may also receive the Feed-in Tariff income.
I Have a Roof Lease
A long-term agreement may still exist even if the company originally named on your paperwork no longer trades.
My Warranty Was With Them
Check whether the workmanship guarantee had separate insurance protection and whether product warranties were issued by the equipment manufacturers.
I Receive FIT Payments
Your Feed-in Tariff arrangement may continue independently of the company that originally installed the solar panels.
The System Needs Repair
Another competent solar contractor may be able to diagnose and repair an owner-occupied system even if the original installer no longer exists.
Do the Solar Panels Become Mine If the Company Goes Bust?
Not automatically.
This is particularly important with older rent-a-roof installations. Ofgem says third-party-owned solar installations can be sold between companies, especially when businesses go out of business.
The change of ownership may not always have been clearly communicated to the homeowner.
So if another company originally owned the panels, don't assume that the company disappearing means you are free to remove, sell or alter the system.
Read our guide to solar panel contracts, leases and ownership for the wider issues surrounding older solar agreements.
What Should I Do If My Solar Company Has Closed?
Find Your Original Paperwork
Look for the installation contract, invoice, MCS certificate, warranties, insurance documents, roof lease, FIT paperwork and any subsequent letters about ownership changes.
Establish Whether You Own the Panels
If you paid for the installation outright this may be straightforward. If the panels were installed free or under a roof-rental arrangement, investigate the ownership position before altering them.
Check Your Warranties
Look separately at workmanship cover and manufacturer warranties. The solar company disappearing does not necessarily mean every warranty connected with the installation has disappeared.
Check for Insurance-Backed Protection
Some installations were supplied with insurance-backed protection designed to provide cover if the original installer stopped trading. Check the documents supplied when the system was installed.
Check Your FIT Arrangement
If the installation receives Feed-in Tariff payments, establish who the registered generator is and which FIT licensee administers the payments.
Use Another Contractor Where Appropriate
If you own the system and it needs maintenance or repair, another competent solar contractor may be able to inspect and work on it.
I Don't Know Who Owns the Solar Panels
This is a recognised problem with some older rent-a-roof installations.
The company name on paperwork from 10 or 15 years ago may no longer be the company that owns the installation today.
Ofgem maintains information relating to installations registered under the Feed-in Tariff scheme. Homeowners can submit an Ownership Register Query where they need information about an installation on their property.
Ofgem says this process can help establish:
- whether the installation is registered for FIT support;
- the identity of the registered FIT Generator; and
- the FIT Licensee associated with the installation.
What Happens to My Solar Warranty?
Don't treat every solar warranty as one single guarantee.
A solar installation can involve several different forms of protection, including:
| Type of Cover | What to Check |
|---|---|
| Installer workmanship guarantee | Whether separate insurance-backed protection was supplied if the installer ceased trading. |
| Solar panel warranty | Whether the panel manufacturer still exists and what its warranty covers. |
| Inverter warranty | Check the inverter manufacturer, serial number and remaining cover. |
| Battery warranty | If you have storage, check its separate manufacturer warranty. |
| Bird-proofing / other work | Additional work may have separate workmanship or product guarantees. |
This means the disappearance of the installer does not automatically cancel a manufacturer's warranty on the solar panels or inverter.
What If My Solar Inverter Fails After the Installer Goes Bust?
If you own the solar system, another suitable contractor may be able to diagnose the fault and install a compatible replacement inverter.
You do not normally need to replace an entire solar array simply because the company that originally installed it no longer exists.
Before paying for a replacement, check the inverter manufacturer's warranty and establish whether any separate insurance protection applies.
See our solar inverter replacement cost UK guide for indicative prices, lifespan and replacement considerations.
What If My FIT Company Goes Bust?
This is a different situation from the solar installer going bust.
If the energy supplier responsible for your Feed-in Tariff payments becomes insolvent or loses its supply licence, Ofgem has arrangements dealing with continuity of FIT payments.
You may need to arrange for another FIT licensee to take over the payments. They do not necessarily transfer automatically without action from the generator.
Therefore, establish whether the failed company was your installer, the owner of the panels, or the energy supplier administering your FIT before deciding what action is required.
What If I Need to Sell My House?
If you own the solar panels outright, the failure of the original installer does not in itself prevent the property being sold.
The position can be more complicated where another company owns the panels or there is a long-term roof lease.
Before putting the property on the market, it can be useful to establish:
- who currently owns the panels;
- whether a roof lease remains registered;
- how long is left on the agreement;
- who receives FIT income;
- who is responsible for maintenance;
- whether the agreement transfers to a buyer; and
- whether mortgage lender requirements could apply.
Finding this information early can be easier than discovering an unresolved solar agreement after conveyancing has already started.
Can I Just Remove the Solar Panels?
If you own the system, removal is ultimately your decision, although professional electrical isolation and safe roof work may be required.
If a third party owns the installation, however, do not assume you have the right to remove it simply because the original company has disappeared.
The equipment or lease rights may now belong to another business. Removing third-party property without first establishing the contractual and ownership position could create additional problems.
For older systems that you own, also consider whether repair makes more sense than removal. See our solar panel maintenance costs guide and solar panel recycling guide.
Solar Company Gone? Don't Panic — Establish the Facts First
The most important first step is identifying what the failed company actually did and whether it owned any part of the solar installation.
Find the paperwork, establish panel ownership, check warranties and insurance, and identify the FIT arrangements before spending money or altering the system.
For older leased systems, continue with our Solar Panel Contracts, Leases & Ownership UK guide.
Solar Company Gone Bust FAQs
What happens if the company that installed my solar panels goes bust?
If you own the solar panels, the system remains yours. You may need another contractor for future maintenance and should check whether manufacturer warranties or insurance-backed workmanship protection remain available.
Do solar panels become mine if a rent-a-roof company goes bust?
Not automatically. Third-party-owned solar installations can be transferred or sold between companies, including when businesses fail. Establish current ownership before altering or removing the panels.
How do I find out who owns solar panels on my house?
Start with the property and installation paperwork. For installations that are or may be registered under the Feed-in Tariff scheme, Ofgem provides an Ownership Register Query process that can help identify registered ownership information.
Is my solar warranty still valid if the installer closes?
Possibly. Manufacturer warranties and insurance-backed protection may exist separately from the installer. Check each warranty individually rather than assuming all cover ended when the installer stopped trading.
Can another company repair my solar panels?
If you own the installation, another competent solar contractor may be able to diagnose and repair it. Check existing warranties before authorising work that could affect remaining cover.
What happens to Feed-in Tariff payments if a FIT supplier goes bust?
This is handled differently from an installer failure. Ofgem has arrangements for continuity of FIT payments, but generators may need to arrange for another FIT licensee to take over their payments.