Do estate agents value solar panels?

Most UK estate agents view solar panels positively when valuing a property, particularly if the system is owned outright, well-maintained, and has documentation. Some agents specifically highlight energy efficiency features in listings.

Do solar panels affect mortgage applications?

Owned solar panels do not typically affect mortgage applications. However, leased solar panels can cause complications — some lenders require the lease terms to be reviewed, and a few may decline lending if the lease terms are unfavourable.

Should I install solar panels before selling my house?

It depends on your timeline. If you plan to sell within 1–2 years, the value added may not cover the installation cost. If you will live in the home for 3+ years before selling, the bill savings are the reliable part of the return, and UK research associates solar with a higher sale price on top of that — as a market average, not a promise about your sale.

Do Solar Panels Increase Home Value in the UK?

By Home Solar Guide Team|Updated 17 March 2026|question

Independently written | Evidence-based | Sources cited

Solar panels on a detached UK home with established garden increasing property value — Solar panels can add measurable value to UK homes — but the premium varies.

Ready to see what solar could save you?

Get free, no-obligation quotes from MCS-certified installers in your area.

Get Free Quotes

Free, no obligation. Takes 2 minutes.

Do solar panels add value to your house?

Yes — homes with solar panels sell for more than comparable homes without them in UK research. UK research has found that homes with solar panels sell for more than comparable homes without them. A 2024 study of around 5 million Zoopla observations (Asproudis et al., Energy Economics) estimated a selling-price premium of 6.1% to 7.1% using causal machine learning, and 3.5% on its lowest estimate using matching methods — so the size of the effect depends heavily on the method. That is an average association across the whole market, not a valuation of any particular home. It is not a guaranteed uplift, and we cannot tell you what solar would add to your property. What moves the premium in practice: whether the system is owned outright rather than leased, its age and remaining warranty, and how well documented it is.

What the Evidence Shows

The strongest UK evidence. UK research has found that homes with solar panels sell for more than comparable homes without them. A 2024 study of around 5 million Zoopla observations (Asproudis et al., Energy Economics) estimated a selling-price premium of 6.1% to 7.1% using causal machine learning, and 3.5% on its lowest estimate using matching methods — so the size of the effect depends heavily on the method. That is an average association across the whole market, not a valuation of any particular home. It is not a guaranteed uplift, and we cannot tell you what solar would add to your property.

Why the range is so wide. The same paper reports 6.1–7.1% from its causal machine-learning models and 3.5% from its matching specification. That is not a rounding difference — it means the measured premium depends materially on how you control for everything else about a house. Anyone quoting a single percentage is hiding that.

What we no longer publish. Earlier versions of this page cited an Energy Saving Trust value figure, a DECC finding that an EPC jump from G to D adds 'up to 14%', and a Rightmove report putting EPC A/B homes 5–10% above D/E. We could not verify any of them against the named organisation's own published work, so we removed them. A figure we cannot trace to a checkable publication does not belong on this page, however often it is repeated elsewhere.

Estate agent sentiment is not price evidence. Agents reporting that solar is 'viewed positively' tells you about presentation, not about what buyers pay.

Source: Asproudis, Gedikli, Talavera & Yilmaz (2024), Energy Economics 137, 107768.

Solar panel savings over 25 years showing long-term financial value — The ongoing savings from solar panels are a key selling point for buyers.

What Affects the Value Solar Adds

Factors that influence how much value solar panels add to your home:

System age and condition — newer systems with 20+ years of warranty remaining add more value than older systems near end of life
Ownership — panels you own outright add full value. Leased panels or rent-a-roof schemes may deter buyers who inherit the lease obligation
System size — larger systems (4–6kW) that significantly reduce bills add more value than small 1–2kW systems
Battery storage — buyers may like the extra self-sufficiency, but any effect of a battery on resale value is unevidenced — we found no credible UK study measuring one
EPC rating — solar usually lifts a home by one or two bands, which is what buyers and lenders tend to look at first
Local market — the research found the premium varies by region, so a national average will not describe every area
Documentation — complete records (MCS certificate, warranty docs, performance data, maintenance history) increase buyer confidence

Ready to see what solar could save you?

Get free, no-obligation quotes from MCS-certified installers in your area.

Get Free Quotes

Retired UK couple sitting outside their solar-powered home — Solar panels are particularly valued by retired homeowners seeking to lock in low energy costs.

Do Leased Solar Panels Reduce Home Value?

Potentially, yes. If your solar panels are leased (through a rent-a-roof scheme or a PPA), the buyer inherits the lease. This can deter some buyers because:

They may be locked into a 20–25 year contract with a third party
The lease may restrict roof maintenance or replacement
The financial benefit to the homeowner is smaller (the lease company takes most of the savings)
Some mortgage lenders are cautious about leased panels

If you have leased panels and plan to sell, consider buying out the lease before putting the property on the market. Some lease companies offer early buyout options.

If you are considering solar, always buy the system outright (or on finance where you own the panels). This maximises both your savings and your property value.

Source: UK Finance mortgage lending guidance.

UK family with children outside their solar-powered home — Younger buyers increasingly value energy efficiency — solar panels appeal to this growing market.

How to Maximise the Value Solar Adds

Own the system outright — never lease if you want to maximise resale value
Keep all documentation — MCS certificate, warranties, installation records, and performance data
Maintain the system — clean panels and a functioning inverter look better than a neglected installation
Get a new EPC — your current EPC may not reflect the solar installation. Getting an updated EPC showing a higher rating is worth the £60–£80 cost
Highlight savings in listings — include annual savings figures in your property listing. '£900/year electricity savings' is a powerful selling point
Do not add a battery purely to sell — any effect of a battery on resale value is unevidenced — we found no credible UK study measuring one