Who Owns My Solar Panels? How to Check Solar Panel Ownership in the UK
Solar panels are attached to your house — but that doesn't always mean you own them. Thousands of UK properties had panels installed under older rent-a-roof and third-party solar schemes where a company retained ownership of the installation.
If you've bought or inherited a property with solar panels, lost the original paperwork or discovered that the original solar company no longer exists, this guide explains how to investigate who owns the system.
Do I Own the Solar Panels on My House?
If you personally bought and paid for the solar installation, the answer will normally be straightforward. Problems tend to arise when panels were already on the property or were originally installed under a free-solar or rent-a-roof scheme.
Under some older arrangements, a solar company installed the equipment at little or no upfront cost to the homeowner. The company retained ownership of the solar installation and generally received the Feed-in Tariff income, while the homeowner benefited from electricity generated by the panels.
Ofgem describes this as third-party ownership, with many installations operating on a rent-a-roof model.
Four Common Solar Ownership Situations
You Bought the System
You paid for the solar installation and own the panels, inverter and related equipment, subject to the terms of your original purchase and warranties.
A Previous Owner Bought It
The solar system may have transferred with the property when you bought the house. Your conveyancing paperwork can help establish what was included.
A Company Owns It
Under a rent-a-roof arrangement, another business may own the installation and have contractual rights relating to your roof.
Ownership Has Changed
The original solar company may have sold or transferred the installation to another company, particularly if the original business ceased trading.
You Inherited the Property
An inherited house may come with an existing solar agreement that predates your ownership of the property.
You Simply Don't Know
Missing paperwork and company changes can make older solar systems difficult to trace. There are still ways to investigate the ownership position.
What Is Third-Party Solar Panel Ownership?
Ofgem recognises that the owner of a solar installation can be different from the owner of the property where it is located.
Many of these arrangements were created using the rent-a-roof model.
Typically, a company installed solar PV panels on a homeowner's roof and became the registered FIT generator. The company received the Feed-in Tariff payments, while the household could use electricity generated by the panels.
A lease or another agreement commonly gave the solar company rights to use the roof for the installation.
For a broader explanation, see our Solar Panel Contracts, Leases & Ownership UK guide.
How to Find Out Who Owns Your Solar Panels
Check Your Property Purchase Documents
If you bought the house with panels already installed, look through the documents supplied during conveyancing. Search for references to solar PV, roof leases, FIT agreements, leases or third-party ownership.
Find the Original Solar Paperwork
Look for an installation invoice, contract, MCS certificate, warranty, Feed-in Tariff documents or correspondence from the company that installed or managed the system.
Check Who Receives the FIT Payments
For older FIT-accredited systems, the registered FIT generator is the individual or company registered as the owner of the installation.
Check for a Roof Lease
Older third-party schemes may involve a lease or agreement giving another party rights over the roof. Property records and your conveyancing documents may help identify this.
Check Whether the Original Company Still Exists
If the company has disappeared, do not assume the panels are now yours. Third-party solar installations can be transferred or sold to another business.
Ask Ofgem About a FIT-Registered Installation
If ownership is still unclear and the installation is or may be accredited under the Feed-in Tariff scheme, a property owner can submit an Ownership Register Query to Ofgem.
How Does the Ofgem Ownership Register Query Work?
Ofgem maintains the Central FIT Register containing accredited Feed-in Tariff installations.
Its Ownership Register Query (ORQ) process allows a property owner to request information about a solar installation on their property that is, or may be, accredited under the FIT scheme.
Ofgem says the process can be used to establish:
- whether the installation is registered to receive FIT support;
- the identity of the registered FIT Generator; and
- the identity of the FIT Licensee making payments to the generator.
Ofgem may require documentary proof of identity or other appropriate documentation before releasing information.
Is the FIT Generator the Same as the Homeowner?
Not necessarily.
Under the Feed-in Tariff scheme, the FIT Generator is the registered owner of the accredited installation.
For an ordinary homeowner-owned solar system, that may be the homeowner. With a third-party rent-a-roof installation, however, the registered generator may instead be a company.
There can also be a nominated recipient who receives FIT payments on behalf of the generator, so the person receiving payments is not always sufficient on its own to establish the full legal position.
What If the Company Named on My Paperwork Has Gone Bust?
This is one of the most confusing situations with older solar installations.
Ofgem states that third-party installations may be sold between companies, particularly when businesses go out of business. The change in ownership may not always have been communicated to the homeowner.
Therefore, an agreement bearing the name of a company that no longer trades does not automatically mean the agreement or third-party ownership has disappeared.
See our dedicated guide: My Solar Panel Company Has Gone Bust – What Do I Do?
I Bought the House – Surely the Panels Became Mine?
Not necessarily.
A house can be sold while a third party continues to own solar panels installed on its roof.
The associated roof lease or agreement may continue to affect the property after ownership of the house changes.
This is why the solar arrangement should normally be investigated during conveyancing rather than assuming the panels were included simply because they were physically attached to the property.
Can Land Registry Records Help?
They can form part of the investigation, particularly where a lease or other property right was created in connection with the solar installation.
For properties in England and Wales, HM Land Registry provides information about registered land and property. Your solicitor or conveyancer can also examine the title and associated documents where necessary.
However, don't rely on a quick title search alone to establish ownership of the solar equipment itself. The original solar agreement, FIT information and other documents may also be relevant.
Clues That Your Solar Panels May Be Third-Party Owned
| Clue | What It Could Mean |
|---|---|
| The panels were installed free | The installation may have been supplied under an older rent-a-roof arrangement. |
| You don't receive FIT income | A third-party owner may be the registered FIT generator. |
| There is a 20 or 25-year agreement | This is consistent with some older roof-lease arrangements. |
| A company has access rights | The agreement may permit the installation owner to access the roof for maintenance. |
| You need permission to alter the system | This can indicate that another party retains rights over the equipment. |
| Your conveyancing papers mention a solar lease | Investigate the lease and identify the current solar installation owner. |
None of these clues should be used alone to determine legal ownership. The actual documentation and registered information are more important.
Why Does Solar Panel Ownership Matter?
Knowing who owns the panels becomes particularly important when something needs to change.
Selling Your House
Buyers, conveyancers and mortgage lenders may need details of an existing solar lease or third-party arrangement.
Repairing the Roof
If panels need removing before roof work, you need to know whether you have authority to arrange their removal.
Replacing the Inverter
Responsibility for repairs may depend on who owns the equipment and what the original agreement says.
Adding a Battery
Modifying a system that belongs to another company may require permission or technical consideration.
Removing Old Panels
You should not assume that you can dispose of equipment owned by a third party.
Receiving Solar Income
Ownership can determine who is entitled to FIT-related payments associated with the installation.
What If the Solar Panels Need Repairing?
If you own the solar installation, you can normally arrange for an appropriate solar contractor to inspect and repair it, subject to any remaining warranty conditions.
If the panels are owned by another company, check the agreement first. Responsibility for maintenance and repairs may rest with the installation owner.
For homeowner-owned systems, our guides cover:
What If I Want the Solar Panels Removed?
First establish ownership.
If another company owns the installation, you should not simply instruct a roofer or solar contractor to remove the equipment without checking the agreement and obtaining any permissions required.
This becomes especially important where panels need temporary removal for roof repairs or where a homeowner wants to replace an older solar system.
Not Sure Who Owns Your Solar Panels?
Start with the paperwork rather than the panels themselves.
Check your property purchase documents, solar installation records, FIT paperwork and any roof lease. If the system is or may be FIT-accredited and ownership remains unclear, Ofgem's Ownership Register Query process may help identify the registered FIT generator.
Once ownership is established, it becomes much easier to deal with repairs, roof work, selling the house, buying out an agreement or replacing an ageing solar system.
For the bigger picture, read our Solar Panel Contracts, Leases & Ownership UK guide.
Solar Panel Ownership FAQs
How can I find out who owns the solar panels on my house?
Check your installation and property paperwork first. If the installation is or may be registered under the Feed-in Tariff scheme, a property owner can also submit an Ownership Register Query to Ofgem.
Does owning the house mean I own the solar panels?
No. Some properties have third-party-owned solar panels installed under rent-a-roof arrangements where another company owns the equipment.
Who owns solar panels under a rent-a-roof scheme?
Typically the third-party installation owner owns the solar PV system and is registered as the FIT generator, while the homeowner benefits from some of the electricity generated.
What is an Ofgem Ownership Register Query?
It is a request from a property owner for information about an installation on their property that is, or may be, accredited under the Feed-in Tariff scheme.
Can Ofgem tell me who owns my solar panels?
For relevant FIT installations, Ofgem says its Ownership Register Query process can provide information including the identity of the registered FIT generator and FIT licensee, subject to its information-release process.
What if the company that owned my panels has gone bust?
Do not assume ownership automatically passed to you. Ofgem says third-party solar installations can be sold between companies when businesses fail.
Can I remove solar panels if I don't know who owns them?
Establish the ownership and contractual position first. Removing equipment that belongs to another party could create legal and contractual problems.