Do Solar Panels Increase Home Value?

For most UK homes, yes, though not by a fixed percentage you can bank on.

Solar panels tend to add value mainly by improving your home's Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating, and it's that rating shift, more than the panels themselves, that buyers and valuers actually respond to.

The honest answer as to whether solar panels increase home value sits somewhere between "a modest uplift" and "a genuine selling point," depending on your system, your EPC starting point, and who's buying.

Here's what the evidence actually shows, and what it means if you're weighing up solar with resale in mind.

What does the evidence actually say?

The most robust UK data comes from Rightmove's Greener Homes Report, which analysed 300,000 properties that had sold twice within 15 years and had two different EPC certificates over that period.

family-with-panel

It found that moving a home from an EPC rating of D to C added an average of 3% to its value, worth around £11,157 on the national average asking price at the time. Moving further, from an F rating to a C, added closer to 15%, or almost £56,000.

That's a meaningful uplift, but it's worth being precise about what it's measuring. It's the value of an improved EPC rating, not solar panels specifically. Solar is one of the more reliable ways to improve that rating, but insulation, glazing and heating upgrades all move the same dial, and Rightmove's study doesn't isolate solar as the sole cause.

Why EPC rating matters more than the panels themselves

An EPC rates a property from A (most efficient) to G (least efficient), based on a standardised assessment of insulation, heating and energy use. You can check any UK property's current rating for free on the government's Energy Performance Certificate Register.

A well-sized solar PV system typically lifts a property's EPC score, and for many D-rated homes, that's enough to push the rating up to a C.

This is becoming more than a nice-to-have. Under the government's Warm Homes Plan, privately rented homes in England and Wales will need to reach EPC band C by 2030. A home that already clears that bar is worth more to a landlord, or to a forward-looking buyer weighing up future costs, than one that will need work to comply.

Are buyers actually asking for solar panels?

Increasingly, yes. A nationally representative survey of 2,500 UK adults commissioned by E.ON found that 75% would be more likely to buy a newly built home fitted with solar panels than one without, and 68% supported a government requirement for solar on all new homes.

outdoor-panel

Government policy is heading the same way: the incoming Future Homes Standard is expected to make solar a standard feature of new-build housing rather than an optional extra.

That shift matters for resale even on older homes. As solar becomes the expected norm on new-builds, an existing home without any renewable generation may increasingly look like it's carrying a gap buyers expect to fill themselves, factored into their offer rather than treated as a bonus feature.

Does owning vs leasing your panels change the picture?

This is one of the most overlooked factors, and it can matter more than the size of your system. If you own your panels outright, having them adds value with no complications: you hand over the MCS certificate and any warranty documents, and the sale proceeds as normal.

If your panels are on a lease or "rent-a-roof" arrangement, it's a different story.

Some mortgage lenders are cautious about properties with a third-party lease attached to the roof, and buyers may ask you to pay off or transfer the lease before they'll proceed. It's not necessarily a dealbreaker, but it's worth checking your agreement's transfer terms well before you plan to sell, rather than discovering the details mid-sale.

Does the number of UK homes with solar change the picture?

It's worth knowing how normal solar has become, because it affects how buyers perceive it. According to government figures, 2025 was the strongest year on record for UK solar deployment, with 269,000 installations completed, a 37% increase on the year before, and the UK passed 2 million total solar installations for the first time in March 2026.

light-brick-solar

That scale means solar is no longer a niche feature that raises questions at a viewing. It's increasingly just part of what a well-specified home looks like, which is part of why the EPC-driven value uplift shows up consistently in the data rather than depending on a buyer's personal enthusiasm for renewables.

What does this mean if you're planning to sell later?

A few practical things are worth doing regardless of how soon you plan to move:

Keep your MCS certificate and any warranty documents somewhere findable. Buyers' solicitors will ask for them, and a missing certificate can slow down a sale.
Check whether your system is reflected in your current EPC. If you had panels fitted after your last EPC assessment, the certificate on file may understate your home's actual efficiency.
Understand your own numbers before assuming a return. Our solar panel payback period guide covers what happens if you sell before your system has fully paid for itself. Owned solar can still make a home more attractive to buyers even if you haven't personally hit break-even, but it's not guaranteed to recover every pound spent.
Don't oversize the system purely for resale. The EPC uplift and buyer interest are real, but a system sized to your actual usage and roof, not the biggest one that will fit, is still the better financial decision. Our guide on whether solar panels are worth it covers how to weigh that up properly.

So, will solar panels increase your home's value?

For most homes, particularly those currently rated D or below, a well-installed solar system is likely to add value, largely by lifting your EPC rating into a band that buyers and lenders respond to.

The scale of that uplift depends on your starting point more than on the panels themselves, and owning your system outright matters more for resale than most people expect.

If you want a clearer picture for your own home, our savings calculator gives you an indicative estimate in under a minute, and you can get a free quote to compare real prices from up to four vetted, MCS-certified installers who cover your postcode.

Frequently asked questions

Do solar panels always increase home value?

Not automatically. The value uplift comes mainly from an improved EPC rating, so a home that's already highly efficient, or where the panels don't move the rating band, may see a smaller effect. Poorly installed systems, unresolved roof issues, or a leased system can also work against you.

How much value do solar panels add to a UK home?

There's no single reliable figure, since it depends on your EPC starting point. The most robust UK data, from Rightmove's Greener Homes Report, found a D-to-C EPC improvement added around 3% to property value, and an F-to-C improvement added around 15%. Solar is one of the more common ways to achieve that shift, though not the only one.

Does a leased solar system add or reduce home value?

Leased or "rent-a-roof" systems complicate a sale more often than they add value. Some mortgage lenders are cautious about properties with a third-party lease attached, and buyers may want the lease settled or transferred before completing. Owned systems don't carry this issue.

Do solar batteries add extra value on top of panels?

Possibly, though the evidence here is thinner than for panels alone. A solar battery can support a stronger EPC outcome in some cases, and buyer interest in battery storage has grown alongside solar.

Will solar panels help my home sell faster, not just for more?

There's reasonable evidence that homes with strong EPC ratings and visible efficiency features attract more interest and move faster, particularly as more buyers filter searches by EPC band. It's a secondary benefit rather than the main financial case for solar, but it's a real one.