Is your situation covered?
| Scenario | Typical verdict | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Storm damage to roof-mounted PV panels | Usually covered | Covered as part of buildings if disclosed and rebuild cost includes them. |
| Theft of solar panels or inverter | Usually covered | Usually included; standalone ground-mounted panels may need an extension. |
| Panels installed under a free-fit / lease scheme | Depends on wording | Often the lease company insures them; check the lease and avoid double insurance. |
| Loss of feed-in tariff income after damage | Depends on wording | Standard buildings doesn't cover lost FiT income; needs a specific extension. |
| Roof damage caused by panel installation | Usually not | Workmanship defect — pursue the installer under the MCS guarantee. |
General industry patterns. Your actual cover lives in your policy wording — PolicyPal reads it for you.
The short answer
UK home insurers treat roof-mounted PV panels as part of the building, so they are covered under your buildings policy for storm, fire, theft and impact — provided you have disclosed them and the buildings sum insured reflects the higher rebuild cost (typically £3,000–£8,000 extra). Ground-mounted and battery storage systems often need a specific extension.
Disclose, or risk voidance
Solar panels are a material fact under CIDRA 2012. Most insurers ask directly at quote or renewal. Failure to disclose, or under-stating the rebuild cost, allows the insurer to apply a proportionate remedy or void the policy.
Lease and free-fit schemes
If your panels were installed under a rent-a-roof or free-fit scheme, the lease company usually retains ownership and insures the panels themselves under their own block policy. Don't pay to insure them twice — request a copy of their evidence of cover and exclude them from your sum insured.
Battery storage and inverters
Lithium battery storage (Tesla Powerwall, GivEnergy) is treated as a fitted electrical appliance. Some insurers cover it as standard if installed by an MCS-certified installer; others exclude it. Fire risk from thermal runaway is increasingly underwritten with conditions — e.g. siting away from habitable rooms.
What PolicyPal checks
PolicyPal reads your schedule for: solar panel disclosure, rebuild cost suitability, theft and storm cover for panels, battery storage exclusions, and whether feed-in tariff loss is included. You get a one-line verdict and the exact clauses.
Frequently asked
- Do I need to tell my insurer I have solar panels?
- Yes. Solar panels are a material fact under CIDRA 2012. Failure to disclose can void the policy or trigger a proportionate remedy at claim time.
- Does buildings insurance cover the cost of installing solar panels?
- No — buildings insurance covers loss or damage, not improvements. Installation cost is your capital expense.
- Are my panels covered if they're leased to me?
- Usually the lease company insures them under their own policy. Get evidence of cover in writing and exclude them from your sum insured to avoid paying twice.
- What about damage from snow or hail?
- Covered as storm damage on most policies, subject to the wind-speed or weather-event threshold.
- Will solar panels raise my premium?
- Marginally — usually £20–£60/year for the higher rebuild cost. Battery storage adds more.
- Does my policy cover lost feed-in tariff income after damage?
- Not as standard. A few specialist insurers offer a FiT loss extension; without it, the income gap during repairs is your loss.
Your policy is the only source of truth
Stop guessing. Check your actual policy.
Generic answers don't pay claims. PolicyPal reads your policy wording in seconds and tells you, in one sentence, whether you're covered.