Bought a house with solar panels....
Discussion
If it was me I’d tell him I was writing to the FIT people and telling them the system has been disconnected (and then actually disconnect it from the grid) and then I’d have them reworked so the panels were only powering my use (ie not exporting it or covered by the FIT regime).
I appreciate that this would be cutting off my nose to spite my face, but I intensely dislike anybody who intentionally tries to rip people off.
I’d then possibly calm down a bit and consider offering him £200 for it and say that it’s take that or have nothing.
I’m assuming you played fair in the conveyancing process / didn’t chip him on the price on the day of exchange etc.
Get your solicitors to check the Standards Conditions of Sale that were incorporated in to the contract - these MIGHT cover the position.
I’d also be asking my solicitor some pointed questions about why they didn’t advise on this.
I appreciate that this would be cutting off my nose to spite my face, but I intensely dislike anybody who intentionally tries to rip people off.
I’d then possibly calm down a bit and consider offering him £200 for it and say that it’s take that or have nothing.
I’m assuming you played fair in the conveyancing process / didn’t chip him on the price on the day of exchange etc.
Get your solicitors to check the Standards Conditions of Sale that were incorporated in to the contract - these MIGHT cover the position.
I’d also be asking my solicitor some pointed questions about why they didn’t advise on this.
Old Man Fred said:
From EONs own website the bit about changing ownership
Eon Says"
Changes of Ownership, Assignment of Rights and Nominated Recipients
12.1 We will only make FiT Payments to the person named on the Central FiT Register as the Generator unless you have provided a Nominated Recipient.
12.2 If you are planning to transfer ownership of your Generation Unit(s) or make a change to the Nominated Recipient you must contact us to request a Transfer Form. When this form has been completed, signed, dated and returned to us along with the requested documentation, we will arrange for the Authority to update the Central FiT Register . We will then write to you and the new Generation Unit(s) owner to confirm that this change has taken place. You must notify us as soon as reasonably possible prior to your planned change of ownership and provide the relevant Meter Readings on the date of the change of ownership. FiT Payments will continue to be made to the person (or their Nominated Recipient) as named on the Central FiT Register.
12.3 Deleted as not applicable
12.4 If you have taken ownership of a Generation Unit that is already registered on the Central FiT Register, you will only receive FiT Payments for the duration of the period it remains eligible. Before any FiT Payments will be made you must agree to the Terms and Conditions of this Agreement and sign and date your FiT Plan. " my bold
Their conditions say nothing about approval from the previous owner, details taken from her https://www.eonenergy.com/for-your-home/products-a...
Hi, thanks for the help. When I contacted EON they said that because the previous owner has contacted them they will have to wait for their consent before completing the transfer request.Eon Says"
Changes of Ownership, Assignment of Rights and Nominated Recipients
12.1 We will only make FiT Payments to the person named on the Central FiT Register as the Generator unless you have provided a Nominated Recipient.
12.2 If you are planning to transfer ownership of your Generation Unit(s) or make a change to the Nominated Recipient you must contact us to request a Transfer Form. When this form has been completed, signed, dated and returned to us along with the requested documentation, we will arrange for the Authority to update the Central FiT Register . We will then write to you and the new Generation Unit(s) owner to confirm that this change has taken place. You must notify us as soon as reasonably possible prior to your planned change of ownership and provide the relevant Meter Readings on the date of the change of ownership. FiT Payments will continue to be made to the person (or their Nominated Recipient) as named on the Central FiT Register.
12.3 Deleted as not applicable
12.4 If you have taken ownership of a Generation Unit that is already registered on the Central FiT Register, you will only receive FiT Payments for the duration of the period it remains eligible. Before any FiT Payments will be made you must agree to the Terms and Conditions of this Agreement and sign and date your FiT Plan. " my bold
Their conditions say nothing about approval from the previous owner, details taken from her https://www.eonenergy.com/for-your-home/products-a...
I have emailed back querying it but I presume they need to sign the transfer form.
Andrew
Dogbash said:
Hi, thanks for the help. When I contacted EON they said that because the previous owner has contacted them they will have to wait for their consent before completing the transfer request.
I have emailed back querying it but I presume they need to sign the transfer form.
Andrew
I suspect the transfer form needs to be signed by the existing owner (otherwise there would be a large fraud risk). I have emailed back querying it but I presume they need to sign the transfer form.
Andrew
You wouldn’t have DVLA accepting that a new owner could sign across the registered ownership of a car (DVLA would need the previous owner to do this)
Edited by Notreallymeeither on Friday 10th August 14:06
Notreallymeeither said:
If it was me I’d tell him I was writing to the FIT people and telling them the system has been disconnected (and then actually disconnect it from the grid) and then I’d have them reworked so the panels were only powering my use (ie not exporting it or covered by the FIT regime).
I appreciate that this would be cutting off my nose to spite my face, but I intensely dislike anybody who intentionally tries to rip people off.
I’d then possibly calm down a bit and consider offering him £200 for it and say that it’s take that or have nothing.
I’m assuming you played fair in the conveyancing process / didn’t chip him on the price on the day of exchange etc.
Get your solicitors to check the Standards Conditions of Sale that were incorporated in to the contract - these MIGHT cover the position.
I’d also be asking my solicitor some pointed questions about why they didn’t advise on this.
Hi, the contract in question is worth a few thousand a year so its not a small deal. This is why I am so annoyed with myself for not picking up on this in the purchase. I naively assumed it could be transferred afterwards and as it was stated we owned the panels I thought that was that.I appreciate that this would be cutting off my nose to spite my face, but I intensely dislike anybody who intentionally tries to rip people off.
I’d then possibly calm down a bit and consider offering him £200 for it and say that it’s take that or have nothing.
I’m assuming you played fair in the conveyancing process / didn’t chip him on the price on the day of exchange etc.
Get your solicitors to check the Standards Conditions of Sale that were incorporated in to the contract - these MIGHT cover the position.
I’d also be asking my solicitor some pointed questions about why they didn’t advise on this.
The previous owner wasn't that keen on moving out and was being pushed along by his wife. I'm pretty sure he's doing this out of spite because I've tried to have it out with him on a couple of occasions by turning up on his door step and he's always nice as pie and spins me a load of lies. I hate these type of people too, the ones that are nice to your face but trying to screw you behind your back.
I pride myself on being a pretty reasonable guy and I hate falling out with people. I just don't understand some people, if he wont transfer it then I don't see what he stands to gain other than making an enemy.
Dogbash said:
Hi, thanks for the help. When I contacted EON they said that because the previous owner has contacted them they will have to wait for their consent before completing the transfer request.
I have emailed back querying it but I presume they need to sign the transfer form.
Andrew
If the current people are being awkward try going to the CEO michael.lewis@eon-uk.com It will be an exec team that deal with it but they will undoubtedly have more power and hopefully more sense if you explain everything in a calm and rational way.I have emailed back querying it but I presume they need to sign the transfer form.
Andrew
They probably take a very dim view of customers trying to blackmail people out of the FiT
Dogbash said:
Hi, the contract in question is worth a few thousand a year so its not a small deal. This is why I am so annoyed with myself for not picking up on this in the purchase. I naively assumed it could be transferred afterwards and as it was stated we owned the panels I thought that was that.
The previous owner wasn't that keen on moving out and was being pushed along by his wife. I'm pretty sure he's doing this out of spite because I've tried to have it out with him on a couple of occasions by turning up on his door step and he's always nice as pie and spins me a load of lies. I hate these type of people too, the ones that are nice to your face but trying to screw you behind your back.
I pride myself on being a pretty reasonable guy and I hate falling out with people. I just don't understand some people, if he wont transfer it then I don't see what he stands to gain other than making an enemy.
How annoying. The previous owner wasn't that keen on moving out and was being pushed along by his wife. I'm pretty sure he's doing this out of spite because I've tried to have it out with him on a couple of occasions by turning up on his door step and he's always nice as pie and spins me a load of lies. I hate these type of people too, the ones that are nice to your face but trying to screw you behind your back.
I pride myself on being a pretty reasonable guy and I hate falling out with people. I just don't understand some people, if he wont transfer it then I don't see what he stands to gain other than making an enemy.
Just remember that you are in control (as you own the panels and can decide whether you disconnect them or not) - so I wouldn’t downplay your upper hand here.
snake_oil said:
Also - what does your conveyancing solicitor say? It appears they have dropped a major b
k. Surely a strongly worded letter from them will have the vendor signing it over toot sweet?
Yes in my opinion they have dropped the ball. As part of their questionnaire there is a question that says does the house have solar panels, are they owned etc but there is no mention of "Will the FIT be transferred".k. Surely a strongly worded letter from them will have the vendor signing it over toot sweet?I have taken this up with them and suggested they add this to their property information form for future sales so no one else gets caught out with this.
As far as sending them a strong worded letter, we are waiting for more information as to exactly what the seller wants but once we get that we can decide how to proceed. I don't hold out much hope though.
The annoying thing is all it would take is a 2 minute phone call from the seller to EON and it would be signed over to me and I'd be a few thousand a year better off. I think he is just a weasel and is probably taking great delight at my misfortune.
Andrew
EON have just replied to my email with:
"Thank you for your email .
Unfortunately as previous owner has not confirmed to us whether or not they wish to transfer the ownership of the panels. We are unable to proceed with the transfer.
I would direct you to contact your own, the sellers solicitors or the seller directly to resolve this."
"Thank you for your email .
Unfortunately as previous owner has not confirmed to us whether or not they wish to transfer the ownership of the panels. We are unable to proceed with the transfer.
I would direct you to contact your own, the sellers solicitors or the seller directly to resolve this."
Dogbash said:
EON have just replied to my email with:
"Thank you for your email .
Unfortunately as previous owner has not confirmed to us whether or not they wish to transfer the ownership of the panels. We are unable to proceed with the transfer.
I would direct you to contact your own, the sellers solicitors or the seller directly to resolve this."
The panels? You have evidence they are yours, right?"Thank you for your email .
Unfortunately as previous owner has not confirmed to us whether or not they wish to transfer the ownership of the panels. We are unable to proceed with the transfer.
I would direct you to contact your own, the sellers solicitors or the seller directly to resolve this."
Old Man Fred said:
If the current people are being awkward try going to the CEO michael.lewis@eon-uk.com It will be an exec team that deal with it but they will undoubtedly have more power and hopefully more sense if you explain everything in a calm and rational way.
They probably take a very dim view of customers trying to blackmail people out of the FiT
I'd be emailing him with the full story asap as usually they sort it asap.They probably take a very dim view of customers trying to blackmail people out of the FiT
I didnt even know this was a issue before reading this thread. Taught me a new thing to watch out for.
snake_oil said:
Dogbash said:
EON have just replied to my email with:
"Thank you for your email .
Unfortunately as previous owner has not confirmed to us whether or not they wish to transfer the ownership of the panels. We are unable to proceed with the transfer.
I would direct you to contact your own, the sellers solicitors or the seller directly to resolve this."
The panels? You have evidence they are yours, right?"Thank you for your email .
Unfortunately as previous owner has not confirmed to us whether or not they wish to transfer the ownership of the panels. We are unable to proceed with the transfer.
I would direct you to contact your own, the sellers solicitors or the seller directly to resolve this."
Would it not be appropriate to issue proceedings via money claim online now as he included it in the PIF and therefore is in breach of contract?
Failing that I would escalate at your conveyancer and have them write at their cost a letter before action from a senior partner to them ccing he’s conveyancer giving him 7 days to transfer or you’ll goto court
Failing that I would escalate at your conveyancer and have them write at their cost a letter before action from a senior partner to them ccing he’s conveyancer giving him 7 days to transfer or you’ll goto court
Pheo said:
Would it not be appropriate to issue proceedings via money claim online now as he included it in the PIF and therefore is in breach of contract?
Failing that I would escalate at your conveyancer and have them write at their cost a letter before action from a senior partner to them ccing he’s conveyancer giving him 7 days to transfer or you’ll goto court
Depends if the panels and FIT are treated distinctly? If so, then he could have sold the house and the panels but retain the right to FIT payments. In which case, its not breach of contract. Failing that I would escalate at your conveyancer and have them write at their cost a letter before action from a senior partner to them ccing he’s conveyancer giving him 7 days to transfer or you’ll goto court
I wouldnt know the answer but a solicitor should.
My fitter gave me a set of instructions to turn the panels off (easiest would be a trip switch in your fuse box I guess) I would do that in the first instance and let EON know so he is not able to provide false readings and if he does then they can go down the fraud route.
EON also insist on a site visit to get a meter reading every 2 years otherwise they will stop the payments. They temporarily stopped mine this year when we were not in on their visits so he will get pulled up on that eventually.
If you really do struggle with getting him to transfer the FIT across then see if you can get an independent fitter to rewire it for you so benefit from the immersion and own electricity during the day at least. I'm not sure how much benefit there is to be gained from re-registering it as a new installation as the rates are quite low now.
EON also insist on a site visit to get a meter reading every 2 years otherwise they will stop the payments. They temporarily stopped mine this year when we were not in on their visits so he will get pulled up on that eventually.
If you really do struggle with getting him to transfer the FIT across then see if you can get an independent fitter to rewire it for you so benefit from the immersion and own electricity during the day at least. I'm not sure how much benefit there is to be gained from re-registering it as a new installation as the rates are quite low now.
Under the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading regulations 2008, a seller must disclose anything that would materially affect the sale price of a property. On the information form he completed, did he exclude the FIT? If not, I'd get your solicitor to write to him about his obligations under those regulations. Also the estate agent who is also expected to disclose.
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