Who owns these solar panels?

Question

I'm asking this question on behalf of my mother. A few years ago, she granted a lease to a solar panel provider to install solar panels on her house roof. In return, she got cheaper energy. The solar panels and the airspace on the roof were owned by the solar panel company.

Recently, my mother tried to get a new mortgage but was denied it as she didn't own the airspace on the roof. She then later found that the solar panel company she had dealt with had gone bankrupt. Now who owns the airspace and solar panels?

The mortgage providers want written evidence to show that my mother owns the airspace but she can't get in contact with the solar panel company as the company no longer exists. What can she do?

? · Answer

get a new mortgage provider - cos the one shes got is lying to her

if the company has gone bust then the the commany cant exercise its right of ownership

the panels now technically belong to the bankruptcy administrators (cos the panels are assets of the company) who could remove and sell them to pay what they get back to creditors

but since your mother would be able to charge them a fee to access her roof its unlikely they would want to do this, cos the fee + the cost of removing them would most likely cost more that they would fetch if sold . There is also the fact that if they remove them they would be breaching her right to free/cheap electricity under the lease

So its far more likely she would become owner by default

Maxi · Answer

UK: Providing the installation conforms to the correct requirements, getting a mortgage on a property with leased solar panels should not present a problem, although different lenders may still have slightly different policies from each other.... suggest your mother speaks to CAB with regards to company in liquidation and what she can do to sever their lease and/or speak to a mortgage broker who has access to lots of lender, far more then the public do directly and specifically with regards to those lenders who would remorgage when there is roof lease with bankrupt company

Tavy · Answer

This is nonsense if you are in the U.K., no one can own airspace on the roof, there is no such thing.
If she was renting the solar panels and the company has gone out of business they should now  belong to her.
Lenders are not bothered about the panels, but the house as a whole.
She is confused and should try another Lender.

I was an Estate Agent here and I have never heard of this.
UK.

Success · Answer

Contact the State Attorney General

Robert J · Answer

You would have to look through the companies house records for whatever company it was and find out who was appointed to oversee the bankruptcy.

That organisation should be able to say who bought the leases, if anyone.

See here: https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/
Search the company then look in the "Filing history" tab for documentation.

Anonymous · Answer

I have never heard such a ridiculous assertion. She didn't sell the space she leased it so how can they say she doesn't own it?  The mortgage people are insane. I would contact a couple more lenders as common sense should prevail. These idiots don't deserve your mother's custom.

Trending News

Who owns these solar panels?

6 Answers