Solar panel insurance is one of those topics that most homeowners do not think about until something goes wrong — a storm rips a panel off the roof, a section of mounting rail corrodes and fails, or a fire in the loft is traced back to a faulty inverter. The good news is that most standard home insurance policies do cover solar panels as part of the building’s “fixtures and fittings.” The less-good news is that there are several conditions — around how the system was installed, whether it was MCS-certified, and what exactly caused the damage — that can lead to a claim being disputed or rejected. This guide explains what is typically covered, what is not, and when specialist solar panel insurance might be worth considering.
Does Standard Home Insurance Cover Solar Panels?
In most cases, yes — but not automatically and not unconditionally. Which? research on solar insurance found that most major insurers treat solar panels as permanent fixtures attached to the building, covering them under the buildings insurance section of a home policy. However, you must usually notify your insurer when solar panels are installed — failure to do so can invalidate cover for the whole building in the event of a claim.
There is no industry-wide standard for how insurers treat solar, which means it varies significantly between providers. When you notify your insurer of your installation, ask explicitly:
- Will my premium increase, and if so, by how much?
- Is the rebuild value of my property (the sum insured) sufficient to cover reinstating the solar system if it needs to be removed and refitted after storm or fire damage?
- Does my policy cover loss of SEG earnings if panels are out of service for an extended period?
- Are there any exclusions specifically related to solar, inverters, or battery storage?
Some insurers impose no additional premium for solar panels; others add £50–£150 per year. A few mainstream insurers have become more reluctant to cover properties with battery storage, treating lithium-ion batteries as a fire risk factor. This is something to verify explicitly if you have or plan to add a home battery.
What “Fixtures and Fittings” Cover Means for Solar Panels
Solar panels, inverters, mounting rails, and wiring that are permanently fixed to the building are generally classified as “fixtures” — part of the building structure — rather than “contents.” This means they fall under your buildings insurance, not contents insurance. The distinction matters because buildings and contents policies often have different excess levels, different claims processes, and different cover limits.
The sum insured for your buildings policy should be set at the full reinstatement cost — the cost of rebuilding your home from scratch including all fixtures. When solar panels are installed, your reinstatement cost increases. A 4 kWp system costs £6,000–£9,000 to install; a 10 kWp commercial-scale system on a large house could be £15,000–£25,000. If you do not update your sum insured, you risk being underinsured — and in the event of a major claim (fire, for example), the insurer may reduce your payout proportionally. Our solar panel costs guide gives current installation cost benchmarks to help you set the right sum insured.
What Can Void a Solar Panel Insurance Claim
DIY installation
Self-installing solar panels is legal in the UK, but it carries significant insurance risk. Most home insurance policies require that any significant alteration to the building — including solar installation — is carried out by a “qualified and competent” professional. If a DIY installation causes damage (roof leak from poorly sealed fixing points, fire from incorrect DC wiring), the insurer is likely to dispute the claim on the grounds that the work was not professionally carried out. Electrical regulations (Part P in England and Wales) require that solar installations are notified to building control — DIY systems that skip this process are at further risk.
Non-MCS installation
Some insurers specifically require that solar installations be carried out by an MCS-certified installer as a condition of cover. MCS (Microgeneration Certification Scheme) certification guarantees that the installer has met quality and competency standards and that the installation follows MCS technical standards. Even where your insurer does not explicitly require MCS, a non-MCS installation may give them grounds to query the quality of workmanship if a claim arises.
Modifications after installation
Adding panels, batteries, or changing inverter configuration after the original installation — particularly if done by a different (or unqualified) installer — can complicate a claim. Keep records of every piece of work done on your system, including who did it and their certification details.
Failure to maintain
Standard home insurance policies typically exclude damage arising from gradual deterioration or lack of maintenance. A panel that fails because its frame has corroded after years without inspection is less likely to be covered than one damaged by an identifiable storm event. Keep records of any maintenance or inspection visits — see our solar panel maintenance guide for what a basic maintenance regime looks like.
Storm Damage vs Panel Defects: Why the Distinction Matters
Home insurance is designed to cover sudden accidental damage or specified perils (fire, flood, storm, theft). It is not designed to cover product defects, gradual failure, or underperformance. This distinction is important for solar:
| Type of problem | Likely covered by home insurance? | Covered by warranty instead? |
|---|---|---|
| Storm damage — panel blown off roof | Yes (storm peril) | No (not a product defect) |
| Storm damage — mounting rail torn off, roof structure damaged | Yes (storm peril) | No |
| Fire caused by inverter fault | Possibly — depends on cause investigation | Possibly (product liability of inverter manufacturer) |
| Roof leak caused by poor panel fixing | Disputed — depends on installation quality | Possibly (installer’s workmanship guarantee) |
| Panel output degrading faster than expected | No — not a peril, a performance issue | Yes — manufacturer’s performance warranty |
| Panel cracked by falling branch (not storm) | Yes — accidental damage (if included in policy) | No |
| Inverter failure — no damage to building | No — not an insured peril | Yes — inverter warranty |
The practical upshot: home insurance handles damage to the building and its fixtures caused by sudden external events. Warranty handles product performance and manufacturing defects. These are complementary, not overlapping — and both matter.
Understanding Solar Panel and Inverter Warranties
Warranties are not insurance — they are contractual guarantees from the manufacturer or installer. For solar, there are typically three separate warranties:
- Panel product warranty: Covers manufacturing defects in the panel itself. Typically 10–15 years. If a panel delaminates, its junction box fails, or it physically cracks due to a manufacturing fault, this warranty covers replacement.
- Panel performance warranty: Guarantees that the panel’s power output will not degrade below a stated level over time (typically no more than 20% over 25 years — most modern panels guarantee linear degradation of 0.5–0.6% per year). If your panels degrade faster than warranted, the manufacturer should compensate — though making this claim in practice can be difficult if the manufacturer is not UK-based.
- Inverter warranty: Covers the inverter against defects. Standard is 5–12 years; most manufacturers offer extended warranties of 20–25 years for a fee. Inverter failure is more common than panel failure, so the warranty duration matters. Factor replacement cost (£500–£1,500 installed) into your long-term financial model.
Your installer should also provide a workmanship guarantee — typically 2–5 years — covering installation defects. This is separate from product warranties and sits with the installer, not the manufacturer. MCS-certified installations include a mandatory workmanship warranty requirement. The gov.uk guidance on solar panels confirms that MCS certification is the consumer’s best protection against installation quality issues.
Specialist Solar Panel Insurance: When Is It Worth It?
A small number of specialist insurers offer standalone solar panel insurance policies that go beyond standard home insurance cover. These typically include:
- Cover for inverter failure and replacement (not covered by standard home insurance)
- Lost generation / lost SEG income during repair periods
- Equipment breakdown cover
- Excess waiver on storm claims
Standalone solar insurance typically costs £50–£150 per year depending on system size and cover level. Whether it is worth it depends on your existing home insurance terms and whether you have extended the inverter warranty separately. For most homeowners with a standard MCS-installed system covered by a standard home insurance policy plus extended inverter warranty, specialist solar insurance is an optional extra rather than a necessity. For larger systems (10+ kWp) or battery storage systems, the additional cover for equipment breakdown and lost income is more likely to justify the cost.
The Energy Saving Trust recommends reviewing your home insurance policy before installation and asking your insurer specifically about solar, rather than assuming cover is automatic. Use our solar savings calculator to understand the financial value your system generates — knowing your system’s earning potential helps you decide how much insurance protection is proportionate.