Are Solar Panels Considered Real Property

You agree that the solar panel system is the company s personal property under the uniform commercial code.

Are solar panels considered real property.

This is because the property won t be considered livable if your solar panels fail and there s no electricity. Moreover the cost of the lease will negate some of the utility cost savings. In addition to the general rule regarding tenant trade fixtures most solar project site control agreements specifically provide that the project facilities will at all times be and remain the sole separate property of the tenant and not part of the real property. This can mean a significant increase in your property taxes.

With the increasing popularity of residential solar panels the issue of whether these panels are classified as real or personal property has been the subject of some discussion debate and litigation. You might encounter one of four solar home scenarios when home shopping. All the major mortgage investors including fannie mae freddie mac the fha and the va require the property to have an alternate source of electricity. Since there are very little up front costs for leased solar panels solar companies will place a lien against the homeowner s property as a means of security.

Whether the solar panels are leased and owned also may affect the appraisal. The company owns the solar panel system for all purposes. Obviously this creates issues when selling a house with solar panels on the roof that belong to someone else. There are a few factors to consider before entering an agreement to buy a house with solar panels and they depend on the type of solar panel installation.

Many appraisers are taking the position that there is no added value and perhaps some diminished value with leased solar panels because the buyer must assume the lease. Solar panels also can t be the only source of electricity on the property. You understand and agree that this is a lease and not a sale agreement. Therefore it is to the benefit of the taxpayer if solar panels are classified as personal property.

Fully owned solar panels leased solar panels solar panels purchased with a solar loan and pace property assessed. However unlike most home upgrades there are many states and cities that offer property tax exemptions for solar panels. In finalizing the proposed regulations the irs and treasury rejected those comments affirming the view that solar panels generally are active business assets that are not standing alone real property though the final regulations note that the mounts for the solar panels and exit wires may qualify as real property under the facts and circumstances test applicable to other inherently permanent structures. Therefore leased solar panels are likely to be value neutral on the appraisal.

An appraiser will not add any value to a property that has leased solar panels. This additional financial commitment makes it harder to market and sell the property. If you ve seen a rise in solar panels in your area consider taking the first step toward competency in the valuation of this energy efficient feature of real estate. Solar panels and green homes are becoming increasingly more common in the marketplace.

Adding solar panels to your home involves permits.