Do Solar Panels Increase Home Value?
Author: Steve Fairless
Originally Published: 8th January 2024 · Updated: 29th August 2026
Solar panels can make a home more attractive to some buyers and current UK market guidance suggests an indicative value uplift may be possible, but there is no universal percentage that every property will gain. The result depends on the property's location, ownership of the system, installation quality, energy costs, buyer priorities and how clearly the benefits are documented.
At Sustainable Energy Engineering, we would never quote a guaranteed house-price increase as part of a solar proposal. The strongest financial case for solar is still the electricity it can generate and the grid electricity it can displace over time. Any resale benefit should be treated as an additional possibility, not the sole reason to install.
Updated: 29th August 2026 using current Rightmove market evidence, government EPC research and Energy Saving Trust guidance.
What the Current UK Evidence Says
- Rightmove's current guide with Octopus Energy says existing homes with solar panels typically show an indicative 2–3% value uplift.
- Rightmove's 2025 Greener Homes Report says mentions of solar panels in for-sale listings increased 37% year on year.
- The same report says 46% of properties for sale were EPC C or above in 2025, compared with 29% in 2015.
- Government research has found a relationship between better EPC ratings and sale prices, but that evidence is about energy efficiency generally — not proof that solar alone caused the price difference.
None of these figures guarantees what your own home will sell for.
Why the Old “Solar Adds 4–14%” Claim Is Too Strong
The previous version of this page repeated a broad 4–14% uplift range. That is not a responsible figure to present as a general UK rule. Property valuations are local, and published studies often measure wider energy efficiency rather than isolating solar PV as the only change.
For this update, we have replaced that claim with evidence that can be traced to specific current sources and clearly labelled where the evidence is indicative, solar-specific or only related to EPC performance.
How Solar Can Make a Property More Attractive
Most buyers care about the monthly cost of running a home. An owned solar PV system can reduce the amount of electricity bought from the grid, and surplus electricity may be exported under an eligible tariff. That gives a buyer a tangible household-cost benefit to consider alongside the normal features of the property.
Rightmove's 2025 report also shows that solar is becoming more visible in property marketing, with solar-panel mentions up 37% year on year. That does not prove buyers will pay more in every case, but it does show that solar is increasingly treated as a marketable feature rather than an unusual add-on.
Rightmove's 2025 Evidence Base
The Greener Homes Report says its analysis draws on around 17 million EPC certificates, nearly 30 million property listings and insights from more than 1,200 UK consumers. That scale makes it useful market context, although it still cannot value an individual home.
What Does the 2–3% Figure Actually Mean?
Rightmove's current guide, produced with Octopus Energy, says the value uplift for existing homes with solar panels is typically around 2–3%. We treat that as an indicative market guide, not a valuation guarantee.
For example, applying 2–3% mechanically to a £300,000 home would imply £6,000–£9,000. But that arithmetic should not be used as a promise. A valuer may attribute more, less or no separate premium depending on local comparable sales and the wider condition of the property.
Do Not Add a Percentage to Your Asking Price and Assume It Is Real
A solar array does not operate in a vacuum. Roof condition, property condition, local demand, tenure, mortgageability, system ownership and buyer confidence all influence the final sale price. The only reliable valuation is one based on the actual property and current comparable evidence.
Does a Better EPC Rating Increase Property Value?
Government research published in 2013 analysed 325,950 repeat-sale transactions and found a relationship between EPC ratings and residential sale prices in England. That is useful evidence that energy efficiency can matter to value.
However, it would be wrong to say this proves solar panels alone create the same uplift. EPC changes can result from insulation, heating systems, windows, lighting and other measures as well as solar.
Can Solar Improve an EPC?
Solar PV can contribute to a property's assessed energy performance, but the exact EPC result depends on the full building. If resale is a priority, keep the MCS certificate, DNO documentation, warranties, commissioning information and recent monitoring records so an assessor and buyer can understand the system clearly.
Owned Solar vs Leased or Third-Party Solar
Ownership matters. A straightforward homeowner-owned system with clear paperwork is usually easier for a buyer, solicitor and lender to understand than an old lease or roof-rental arrangement.
If the system is subject to a lease, finance agreement or third-party rights, obtain the contract and transfer conditions early in the sales process. Surprises during conveyancing are more likely to damage buyer confidence than the presence of panels themselves.
Installation Quality Can Affect Buyer Confidence
A neat, certified installation with accessible monitoring and intact roof finishes tells a different story from an undocumented array with visible cable issues, water ingress or failed equipment.
That is why we view the original installation standard and long-term support as part of the property's resale story. If an older system needs attention before a sale, our solar electric servicing team can inspect performance and faults.
Does Battery Storage Add More Value?
A battery can strengthen the practical energy proposition because it allows more generated electricity to be used later rather than exported immediately. But there is not enough robust UK evidence to promise a separate house-price uplift for a battery.
What matters to buyers is understandable capability: usable capacity, remaining warranty, manufacturer support, safe installation and whether the battery is configured for the household's tariff and consumption pattern. We offer solar battery storage where it makes sense for the energy profile, not simply as a resale feature.
How Ownership Structure Changes the Conversation
| Arrangement | What is attractive | What needs explaining |
|---|---|---|
| Homeowner-owned solar | Simple transfer with the property; future generation benefits remain with the new owner | Age, warranties, performance records and equipment condition |
| Solar with battery | Potential to use more generated electricity on site and access flexible tariff strategies | Battery age, usable capacity, warranty, location and replacement expectations |
| Leased / roof-rental system | May still reduce bills depending on the agreement | Lease term, roof rights, maintenance responsibility, mortgage-lender requirements and transfer process |
| Financed system | Modern equipment may be attractive | Whether finance is settled, secured or transferable and who owns the equipment |
Does Solar Export Income Transfer to the Buyer?
The physical ability to export transfers with the working system, but an export tariff is a contract. The new owner generally needs to arrange their own supplier account and satisfy the tariff provider's requirements rather than assuming the seller's commercial terms continue automatically.
This is another reason to market the system on verifiable generation and condition rather than advertising a specific annual export payment that may depend on a tariff no longer available to the purchaser.
How Solar Should Be Presented in a Property Listing
A useful listing gives buyers facts they can understand: system size, ownership, installation year, battery capacity if present, evidence of recent generation and remaining warranties. A vague line saying “solar panels included” leaves more questions than it answers.
Rightmove's evidence that solar mentions are increasing is important here. As green technology becomes more common in listings, buyers are likely to compare one system with another. Clear documentation helps a well-designed installation stand out for the right reasons.
Lower Energy Bills and Capital Value Are Not the Same Thing
If a system saves a household money, that does not mean a valuer will simply capitalise every future saving into the asking price. Buyers discount future benefits for uncertainty, maintenance, personal energy use and the fact that technology ages.
That distinction is why we keep the financial case disciplined: model the solar system on realistic energy savings first; treat any property-value uplift as an additional market benefit if and when a buyer values it.
What Buyers Usually Want to Know
Prepare These Before Marketing a Solar Home
- who owns the panels and battery;
- MCS certificate and commissioning documents;
- DNO connection paperwork;
- module, inverter and battery warranties;
- recent generation and monitoring records;
- details of any SEG or export tariff;
- roof warranty or relevant roofing documentation;
- servicing or fault-repair records;
- confirmation of any finance, lease or third-party agreement.
Will Solar Make a Home Easier to Sell?
It can. Lower running costs and visible green technology appeal to some buyers, and Rightmove's data shows these features are increasingly being mentioned in listings. But buyer preferences differ. Some will value the system highly; others will focus on aesthetics, roof access or replacement costs.
The best way to make solar an asset during a sale is to provide clear evidence of ownership, performance and condition.
What If the Panels Are 15 or 20 Years Old?
Age changes the conversation. A mature system may still be generating well, but the inverter may have been replaced or may be closer to replacement than the modules. The buyer will want to know remaining warranties, recent output and whether spare parts or manufacturer support remain available.
A pre-sale inspection can be useful where monitoring data is incomplete or the system has not been checked for years.
Solar Value Is Usually a Combination of Three Things
1. Lower Running Costs
Electricity generated and used in the property can reduce grid purchases.
2. Buyer Appeal
Energy efficiency and green technology are becoming more visible in property searches and listings.
3. Documented Quality
A well-installed, owned system with clear records is easier to value and transfer than an uncertain one.
Our View: Treat Property Value as a Bonus, Not the Payback Model
Solar can support buyer appeal and may contribute to a higher property value, but it should not be sold on a guaranteed percentage uplift. The strongest case is still a correctly designed system that reduces electricity costs while you own the home.
If you are considering solar and want the system designed around both current energy use and long-term property plans, request a tailored assessment.
