Do solar panels affect home insurance?

You must notify your insurer, but most policies cover solar panels with no or minimal premium increase (£0–£50/year). Solar panels are classified as a building fixture and fall under buildings insurance.

What happens if I do not tell my insurer about solar panels?

Non-disclosure is a breach of your insurance policy. If you make any claim (even unrelated to solar), your insurer can reject it entirely. Always notify your insurer before or immediately after installation.

Does home insurance cover solar panel bird damage?

Some policies cover pest damage; others exclude it. Check your specific policy wording. Bird proofing (£300–£600) prevents bird damage entirely and is cheaper than any potential claim excess.

Do I need separate solar panel insurance?

For most homeowners: no. Standard buildings insurance is sufficient. Specialist solar insurance (£30–£80/year) may be worth it if you want: mechanical breakdown cover, loss of generation income cover, or if your standard insurer charges an unreasonable premium.

Solar Panels & Home Insurance: What Changes?

Last updated: 18 March 2026

Independently written

UK home with solar panels — covered by standard home insurance in most cases — Solar panels are covered by most home insurance policies — but always notify your insurer.

Does home insurance cover solar panels?

Solar panels are typically covered by your existing buildings insurance as a permanent fixture. You must notify your insurer when panels are installed — failure to disclose could void your entire policy. Most insurers charge no additional premium or add £0–£50/year. Coverage includes: storm damage, fire, theft, and accidental damage. It does NOT cover: mechanical breakdown, gradual degradation, or bird damage (though some policies may).

Why You Must Notify Your Insurer

Notifying your insurer about solar panel installation is essential — not optional. Here is why:

Legal requirement: Buildings insurance policies require you to disclose material changes to the property. Solar panels are a structural modification (permanently fixed to the roof). Non-disclosure can: - Void your entire policy (not just the solar claim) - Result in rejected claims for unrelated damage (roof leak, fire, storm) - Breach the Insurance Act 2015 duty of fair disclosure

What to tell your insurer: 1. System size and number of panels 2. Installation cost (for rebuilding/replacement value) 3. MCS certification (proves professional installation) 4. Whether panels are owned or leased 5. Installer details and workmanship warranty

Timing: Notify your insurer before installation if possible, or immediately after. Most insurers process the change in a single phone call or online form.

Source: Association of British Insurers (ABI); Insurance Act 2015.

MCS certificate — key documentation for insurance notification — Your MCS certificate proves professional installation — your insurer may ask for a copy.

What IS Covered

Standard buildings insurance typically covers solar panels against:

Storm damage — wind, hail, lightning (the most common claim type)
Fire — including electrical fire originating from the system
Theft — rare but covered (panels are heavy and difficult to steal)
Falling objects — tree branches, debris, tiles from neighbouring properties
Malicious damage / vandalism
Flood damage — if panels or inverter are affected
Subsidence — if ground movement damages the roof structure and panels
Impact damage — vehicle collision, falling scaffolding, etc.

What Is NOT Typically Covered

Mechanical or electrical breakdown — inverter failure due to wear is a warranty claim, not insurance
Gradual degradation — panels losing efficiency over time is normal and expected
Poor installation — damage caused by substandard work is an installer warranty claim
Bird and pest damage — some policies exclude pest damage; bird proofing prevents this
Loss of generation income — if panels are damaged and you lose SEG income during repair, most policies do not cover lost earnings
Cosmetic damage — surface scratches or discolouration that do not affect performance

Solar panels — classified as building fixtures for insurance purposes — Panels are permanent fixtures — covered under buildings insurance, not contents.

Do Solar Panels Increase Insurance Premiums?

Most homeowners see no premium increase:

A survey of major UK insurers shows: - Aviva: No premium increase for owned solar panels - Direct Line: No standard increase; may adjust based on system value - Admiral: No increase in most cases - LV=: No standard increase - NFU Mutual: Covers solar as standard; no increase - Nationwide (building society): No increase for standard installations

Some insurers may increase premiums by £20–£50/year. This reflects the slightly higher rebuilding cost (your property is worth more with solar). The increase is modest and is far outweighed by solar savings.

If your insurer significantly increases your premium (£100+/year) or refuses to cover solar, shop around. Many specialist home insurers and comparison sites now treat solar as standard.

Source: Individual insurer policy terms; comparison site data.

Insurance cost increase is negligible compared to solar savings — Even a £50/year premium increase is negligible against £700-£900/year in solar savings.

Making a Solar Panel Insurance Claim

If your panels are damaged:

1. Document the damage — photos, dates, circumstances 2. Check if it is a warranty or insurance claim: - Manufacturing defect → panel manufacturer warranty (free) - Installation fault → installer workmanship warranty (free) - Storm / fire / theft → buildings insurance claim (excess applies) 3. Contact your insurer — provide photos, MCS certificate, and system details 4. Get repair quotes — your insurer may require 2–3 quotes from MCS-certified installers 5. Excess applies — standard buildings insurance excess (typically £250–£500)

Typical claim values: - Single panel replacement: £200–£500 - Inverter replacement (if storm/fire damaged): £800–£1,500 - Full system reinstallation: £5,000–£10,000 - Roof repair from panel mounting damage: £300–£1,000

Source: Typical insurer claims handling process.

Homeowner reviewing insurance documentation for solar claim — Keep your MCS certificate, installation invoice, and warranty documents safe — you will need them for any claim.

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