Do Solar Panels Increase Home Value?
Short answer: yes — if you own them. UK studies put the uplift at up to 6–7% (~£16,000). Here’s the real evidence, the EPC effect, and the one mistake that can wipe the premium out.
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The short answer
Yes — owned solar panels increase your home’s value in the UK. Exactly how much is where the estimates vary, but every credible study points the same way: a home with paid-for panels is worth more than the same home without them. The headline figure is a 6–7% uplift (roughly £14,000–£17,000 on an average home), though more conservative research suggests 1–2%. The truth for most homes sits somewhere in that range and depends heavily on your EPC rating and whether you own the system outright.
What the UK studies actually say
Ignore the installer marketing claims of “up to 14%” or “£90,000” — those aren’t backed by transaction data. Here’s what the real evidence shows:
| Source | Value uplift | On an average home |
|---|---|---|
| Swansea / Birmingham (1.5m sales) | 6.1% – 7.1% | ~£14,000 – £17,000 |
| Rightmove (EPC D→C move) | ~3% | ~£11,157 |
| Solar Energy UK (2021) | 0.9% – 2% | ~£2,400 – £5,400 |
The Swansea and University of Birmingham study is the one to lean on — it’s the largest, based on 1.5 million actual home sales rather than opinion. The Solar Energy UK figure is more conservative, but it predates the energy crisis, so it likely understates today’s demand for lower-bill homes. The honest takeaway: expect a meaningful uplift, most likely a few percent, with the biggest gains on lower-rated homes that solar drags up an EPC band.
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See What Solar Costs for My Home →How solar adds value
Solar panels don’t add value by magic — they do it through two very concrete routes that buyers care about:
1. Lower running costs
- A solar home is cheaper to run — a real, ongoing saving a buyer inherits
- With the Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) the panels even earn money from exported power
- In an era of high energy prices, “low bills” is a genuine selling point
2. A better EPC rating
- Solar typically lifts a home by ~18 EPC points — often one whole band
- Higher-banded homes command higher prices (see below)
- An A/B-rated home is increasingly what buyers filter for
The EPC effect
This is the mechanism doing most of the heavy lifting. Your EPC rating is one of the first things a buyer sees on a listing, and the data shows it moves prices:
- A or B-rated homes sell for roughly 3.4% more than equivalent D-rated homes (Oxford Economics).
- F or G-rated homes sell for around 7.4% less than equivalent D-rated homes.
- Moving from D to C adds about £11,157 (Rightmove).
Because solar usually bumps you up at least one band, the value gain is largest for homes currently sitting at D, E or F. If your home is already an A, the panels still cut bills — but the EPC-driven price bump is smaller.
Owned vs leased — the big catch
This is the single most important thing on this page. The value uplift only applies to panels you own.
Older “rent-a-roof” or leased schemes let a company install panels for free in exchange for a 20–25 year lease on your roof. The problem at resale is real: the lease is a legal charge attached to the property, and some mortgage lenders won’t lend on a home with a roof lease — which means a buyer can be forced to withdraw. Far from adding value, leased panels can actively delay or collapse a sale.
Owned systems — bought outright or on transferable finance — are the opposite: a clean asset the buyer inherits, with all the bill savings and EPC benefit. If you’re buying solar with resale value in mind, owning is non-negotiable. See our full cost guide and the grants available in 2026 to make ownership as affordable as possible.
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See What Solar Costs for My Home →Does a battery add value?
A solar battery adds modest extra value rather than a big resale premium in its own right. Its real contribution is strengthening the “cheap to run” story: a battery pushes your self-consumption from around 30–40% up to 70–80%, so more of your free solar power is actually used in the home. That means genuinely lower bills — which is exactly what value-conscious buyers are paying up for. So while the battery won’t add its full cost back at sale, it does reinforce the main value driver.
How to maximise the uplift
- Own the system — never lease if resale value matters.
- Get a fresh EPC after install so the improved rating is documented for buyers.
- Keep the paperwork — MCS certificate, warranties, DNO/SEG confirmation — buyers (and their solicitors) will ask.
- Use MCS-certified installers so the system is properly certified and warrantied — see how to choose an installer.
- Add a battery if budget allows to strengthen the low-bills pitch.
The bottom line
Yes, solar panels increase home value — realistically by a few percent, and up to 6–7% on the strongest UK evidence. The value flows through a better EPC rating and lower running costs, both of which buyers now actively want. Just remember the golden rule: this only works for panels you own. Lease them and you get no premium and a potential sale headache.
And here’s the part people miss — the value uplift is a bonus on top of years of bill savings you enjoy while you live there. The best way to know your numbers is a free home survey.
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Frequently asked questions
Do solar panels increase home value in the UK?
Yes. The largest UK study — Swansea University and the University of Birmingham, analysing 1.5 million home sales — found owned solar panels add roughly 6.1% to 7.1% to a property’s value, around £14,000 to £17,000 on a typical UK home. More conservative estimates from Solar Energy UK put the uplift at 0.9% to 2%. Either way, owned panels add value.
How much value do solar panels add to a house?
Estimates range from about £2,400 at the conservative end (Solar Energy UK) up to £14,000–£17,000 based on the Swansea/Birmingham analysis of 1.5 million sales. The exact figure depends on your home’s price, its EPC rating before and after, and whether the panels are owned outright.
Do leased solar panels increase home value?
No — and they can make a sale harder. Leased or “rent-a-roof” panels come with a long-term contract attached to the property, and some mortgage lenders are reluctant to lend on homes with a roof lease. Only owned panels (bought outright or via transferable finance) deliver a resale premium.
Do solar panels improve your EPC rating?
Yes. Solar panels typically add around 18 points to an EPC score, usually lifting a home by at least one band — often D to C. That matters because higher-banded homes sell for more: Rightmove found moving from EPC D to C adds roughly £11,157 (about 3%) to a property’s price.
Does a battery add to home value too?
A battery adds modest extra value rather than a big resale premium. Its main benefit is strengthening the “lower bills” selling point — batteries push self-consumption from around 30-40% up to 70-80%, so the home genuinely costs less to run, which buyers value.
Do solar panels make a house sell faster?
There’s strong buyer demand — an E.ON survey found 75% of Britons would prefer a new-build with solar panels over one without. Lower energy bills and a better EPC make a home more attractive, which can help it sell, though it depends on local market conditions and how the panels are presented.
Figures are drawn from published UK studies (Swansea University & University of Birmingham; Rightmove; Solar Energy UK; Oxford Economics) and are typical estimates for guidance only. Actual value uplift varies by property, location, EPC rating and market conditions. 0% VAT on solar applies until 31 March 2027 per HMRC. This is not financial or property advice — consult an estate agent or surveyor for a valuation.