Yes, solar panels do add value to most UK homes — but the headline figures you see from estate agents and installers need unpacking. The honest answer is: owned panels very likely add value; leased panels can complicate a sale and may add little or nothing.
With electricity bills still uncomfortably high — the Ofgem price cap for July to September 2026 puts the average electricity unit rate at 26.11p per kWh — buyers are increasingly scrutinising running costs before making an offer. Solar panels are a direct answer to that concern. But not all solar is equal, and the difference between owned and leased panels is the single most important thing to understand if you're thinking about resale value.
What the UK data actually says about property uplift
Several credible studies have looked at this, and they don't all agree on the exact number — which is itself a useful signal that you should be wary of anyone quoting a precise figure.
A 2024 study by researchers at Swansea University found that solar panels increase property values in the UK by between 6.1% and 7.1% on average, using data from around five million Zoopla property listings matched to Land Registry Price Paid Data. That's the most optimistic end of the range. Solar Energy UK's own analysis of more than five million property transactions found that installing a solar PV system could increase a home's sale price by approximately £1,800 on average — roughly 0.9% to 2% of the home's value, and around half the cost of installation.
A fair working range, based on the body of UK evidence, is somewhere between 1% and 6% for a system that is owned outright, in good working order, and properly documented. On a £300,000 home, that's a potential uplift of £3,000–£18,000 — a meaningful figure, but one that varies considerably. Don't let anyone tell you it's guaranteed.
The point worth stating plainly: the value uplift on its own usually does not cover the full cost of the system. Solar makes sense because of the three returns combined — the bill savings, the export income, and the added value — not because of the resale bump alone. If you want to understand the full financial picture, our guide to Solar Panel Payback Time UK 2026: The Honest Truth runs through the numbers in detail.
Why EPC rating is the real mechanism
The most direct mechanism by which solar panels increase property value is through the Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating. Solar panels reliably push homes up the EPC scale, often from D to C, or from C to B.
Research from Rightmove shows that C-rated homes tend to be priced around 15% more than F-rated ones — though of course solar alone won't bridge that gap; it's one factor among many. More immediately relevant: a study of 300,000 properties by Rightmove found that increasing a home's EPC from D to C boosts its value by 3%, on average.
From 2025, most lenders have begun offering green mortgage products with preferential rates for homes rated EPC C or above. A higher EPC rating can mean lower mortgage costs for buyers, which translates directly into willingness to pay more for the property. That's a structural shift in the market that makes solar more valuable as a selling point than it was five years ago.
Speed of sale matters too. Properties with higher EPC ratings tend to sell faster. Analysis by Rightmove in 2025 found that homes rated C or above spent an average of 10 to 15 fewer days on the market compared to equivalent homes rated D or E.
The owned vs leased distinction — this is the big one
Here's where a lot of homeowners get a nasty surprise. Between roughly 2010 and 2016, many installers offered "rent-a-roof" or "free solar" schemes: the company paid for and owned the panels; you got cheaper electricity in exchange for letting them use your roof and claim the Feed-in Tariff payments.
If you're in that situation — or you're buying a home with that history — the picture is very different from owning your panels outright.
- Owned panels: Clean transfer. With fully paid-for solar systems, warranties and any Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) payments can usually be smoothly transferred to a new owner. The buyer inherits the asset and the savings. Most mainstream mortgage lenders are comfortable with this.
- Leased panels: Leased solar panels raise more potential issues for buyers. The original contract and remaining length of the lease may carry non-negotiable terms and conditions, which in turn can affect the success of any mortgage application for the property.
- The lender problem: Some lenders will approve a maximum loan-to-value of 75% with a lease in place, which can narrow the pool of buyers significantly — particularly first-time buyers relying on higher LTV mortgages.
- The missing company problem: Many of the companies that leased homeowners' roofs for solar panels have since gone into liquidation. Finding out who the panels belong to can be a challenge, and this information is necessary to transfer future payments to the new homeowner.
If you have a leased system and want to sell, you have two main options: transfer the lease to the buyer (which requires their lender's approval and a solicitor's involvement), or buy out the lease before sale. Making it clear you are prepared to cover the cost of obtaining a deed of variation — the document required to transfer the rent-a-roof lease to the new homeowner — can help, and this typically costs no more than £200. That said, the lender's approval is the bigger hurdle.
What surveyors and buyers actually look for
When a buyer's surveyor visits a property with solar panels, they'll want to know: who owns the panels, how old they are, whether the installation is MCS-certified, and whether documentation exists. A surveyor will note the presence and condition of solar panels. A well-installed, certificated system is a positive finding. Poorly installed or uncertificated systems can be flagged as a concern — which is another reason why MCS-certified installation matters.
This is worth keeping in mind before you install, not just before you sell. An MCS-certified installation with a clear paper trail — certificate, warranty, inverter records — is worth meaningfully more at resale than an uncertified job, even if the panels themselves look identical. It's one of the red flags covered in our guide on Solar Quote Red Flags: Don't Get Ripped Off.
When solar WON'T add much value — be honest about this
There are situations where solar is unlikely to boost your sale price materially, or could complicate things:
If the system is old and under-performing. A 15-year-old system with a dated inverter and no recent service record isn't the asset a shiny new installation is. Buyers may even factor in replacement costs.
If the roof needs work. Panels on a roof that's visibly deteriorating can raise more questions than they answer. Some buyers will see liability, not benefit.
If your local market is price-sensitive at the lower end. Properties in areas with higher electricity prices show a marginally larger premium, consistent with buyers correctly pricing the financial value of future bill reductions. In markets where buyers are stretching their budget just to afford the purchase price, the energy-saving argument resonates less.
If you're selling quickly and haven't updated the EPC. Solar improves your EPC score, but only if the EPC has been updated since installation. An outdated certificate means buyers won't see the benefit reflected on paper.
The bottom line: value uplift is real but secondary
The honest framing is this: solar panels can meaningfully add to your home's value, but that shouldn't be the primary reason you install them. The bill savings and export income — via the Smart Export Guarantee — are what make the numbers work over time. The property value uplift is a genuine bonus, not a guarantee, and it depends entirely on whether the system is owned, certified, documented, and well-maintained.
If you're considering installing solar with one eye on resale, the single best thing you can do is buy the system outright through an MCS-certified installer, keep all your paperwork, and update your EPC once it's installed. Do those three things and you give yourself the best realistic shot at the uplift the studies describe.
If you'd like to see what a properly installed, fully owned system would cost for a home like yours, you can get free, no-obligation quotes from vetted local installers through FairSolar. No pushy sales calls — just honest numbers so you can decide what's right for you.
Frequently asked questions
Do solar panels increase the value of your home in the UK?
The evidence suggests they typically do, though the size of the uplift varies. Studies point to a range of roughly 1%–7% for owned, MCS-certified systems in good condition, with the improvement in your EPC rating being the main driver. The uplift is not guaranteed and depends on your property, location, and whether the system is owned outright.
Does buying solar panels outright matter for resale?
Yes — it makes a significant difference. Owned panels transfer cleanly to the buyer, including any Smart Export Guarantee income and warranties. Leased panels can complicate mortgage approvals for the buyer's lender and may reduce the pool of people who can purchase your home.
Will solar panels help me sell my house faster?
They can. Analysis by Rightmove in 2025 found that homes rated EPC C or above sold an average of 10–15 fewer days faster than equivalent D- or E-rated homes, and solar reliably pushes most homes up at least one EPC band. This only works if your EPC has been updated since the panels were installed.
What happens to my solar panels when I sell my house?
In almost all cases, the panels stay with the property. If you own them outright, ownership and any associated warranties or export tariff agreements transfer to the new owner as part of the sale. If they're leased, your solicitor will need to arrange a formal transfer of the lease agreement — and the buyer's mortgage lender will need to approve it.
Can a buyer get a mortgage on a house with solar panels?
Usually yes — particularly if the panels are owned outright and the installation is MCS-certified. Leased systems can be more complicated: some lenders will only lend up to 75% loan-to-value when a roof lease is in place, and others may require a deed of variation before approving the mortgage. It's worth flagging this early in the conveyancing process.