British Gas Rent a Roof - The Pros and Cons

British Gas Rent a Roof - Is it what it seems?


British Gas offer a scheme called "Rent Your Roof". At first glance and explanation, it sounds like a good idea. However, extensive reading of the terms and conditions is advised!

Usually, someone from British Gas will pop round and explain how wonderful it is, and how you get free solar panels and benefit from all that free electricity.

What rarely gets mentioned though are the terms and conditions which are on their website. http://www.britishgas.co.uk/energy-efficiency/renewable-energy/terms.html

On closer inspection, you will find (once you have trawled through all the "nice" bits), some rather heavily binding conditions.

For example:

Section 5: In the event that we consider your property (the "Property") is suitable, we will require you to provide us with a lease on our standard terms of the roof and air space where the Solar PV Panel will be located (the "Lease") together with any ancillary space. Any Solar PV Panel installed by British Gas (or its affiliates) under the Lease shall be owned by British Gas or any entity to whom we may transfer or assign ownership. The Lease will be for a minimum of 25 years from the date of commissioning the Solar PV Panel (the "Term") We shall be entitled to register the Lease with the Land Registry and the Lease shall be binding on any subsequent owners, or purchasers, of the Property.


What this means: If you sell your house, leave it to someone in a will, your house burns to the ground, British Gas will have a lease on your property, which is passed on to the new owners, and they are responsible for it, and the terms under which that lease has.

Also, British Gas can sell or pass that lease on to someone else if they wish without your approval.

Section 6: The Lease will require You to accept provisions including but not limited to the following (all relevant terms of the Lease shall also be binding on any subsequent owner or purchaser of the Property):
(a) the right for British Gas (or its affiliates) to install the Solar PV Panel, and any ancillary equipment, on the roof of the Property;
(b) a right of access for installation, repair, replacement and meter reading for British Gas (or its affiliates);
(c) an obligation for You to provide regular meter readings;
(d) a right to remove the Solar PV Panel, and any ancillary equipment, and claim all costs (including any uninstall costs and any loss of Feed in Tariff payments which would otherwise have been paid to British Gas (or its affiliates) for the remainder of the Term) if You fail to provide British Gas (or its affiliates) with regular meter readings and/or access rights to the Property for repair, replacement or meter readings;
(e) You, shall be liable to pay all costs, (including any un-install costs and any loss of any Feed in Tariff payments which would otherwise have been paid to British Gas (or its affiliates) for the remainder of the Term) if You either (i) require the Lease to be terminated before the end of the Term; and/or (ii) remove, or require the Solar PV Panel to be removed prior to the expiry of the Term;
(f) if You, damage or cause damage to the Solar PV Panel or any equipment connecting the Solar PV Panel to the Property all costs (including any un-install costs or any loss of any Feed in Tariff payments which would otherwise have been paid to British Gas (or its affiliates) for the remainder of the Term) shall be payable by You to British Gas (or its affiliates);
(g) You shall not do, or allow to be done, anything which adversely affects sunlight reaching the Solar PV Panel, failing which, You shall be liable to pay British Gas (or its affiliates) an amount equal to any loss of Feed in Tariff payments which would otherwise have been paid to British Gas (or its affiliates) for the remainder of the Term;
(h) British Gas (or its affiliates) shall be responsible for and shall maintain and insure the Solar PV Panel;
(i) You shall be responsible for insuring the Property to its full re-instatement value;
(j) British Gas (or its affiliates) shall not be liable for the removal of any Solar PV Panel, or ancillary equipment, which is installed at the relevant Property, whether before or at the end of the Term of the Lease;
(k) any electricity generated by the Solar PV Panel may be used by You free of charge; and
(l) British Gas (or its affiliates) can terminate the Lease on destruction of the Property or the Solar PV Panel, abandonment of the Property, theft or loss of the Solar PV Panel or interruption to flow of light to the Solar PV Panel to the extent that Feed in Tariff Payments are materially reduced for a period of 3 months.


What This Means: If for some reason your panels get damaged, and are unable to fulfill the tariff requirements, you are responsible for paying British Gas for loss of earnings, and the re-installation costs. Also, British Gas states that YOU are liable for the removal costs of any of their equipment, even after their lease has finished.

Further into the agreement, a couple of other interesting points to note:



Work is guaranteed for two years from the date that the installation is completed. These guarantees do not affect your statutory rights in relation to the quality and description of goods and services. You can contact your local authority trading standards or Citizen's Advice Bureau if you need more information about your statutory rights.


We will take all reasonable care to carry out the work without causing unnecessary damage to your property. While we will make good unnecessary damage directly caused by our negligence, you accept that the installation and related work may cause damage to finishings, both internally and externally and that certain areas may need redecoration following completion of the installation. Redecoration will be your responsibility and is not included in the quotation.


What this means: The minimum guarantee is in place. After which, any problems become your cost, and your responsibility. Secondly - British Gas accept no responsibility for taking care of your property whilst they are  adding something to it which you are responsible for.

Goods supplied and delivered by us to you shall remain our property until paid for by you in full. Whilst goods remain our property (we continue to have title over them) we have the absolute authority to retake, sell or otherwise dispose of all or any part of these goods. At any time and without notice we shall also be entitled to enter any premises in which our goods, or any part of them, are installed or stored or it is reasonably believed to be so. We shall be entitled to seek a court injunction to prevent you from selling, transferring or otherwise disposing of such goods.


What this means: Basically, British Gas can pop around to your house, without telling you in advance, and take their equipment away.

In all, the above are just a few of the points in the agreement - basically, British Gas want all the benefits, not just while you own the house, but after too, and you are responsible for everything.!