My Experience Buying a Home with Solar Panels from Sunrun

Congratulations on finding a house with solar panels! You're about to step into a world of abundant, reliable energy. But before you get the keys, let's walk through what you need to know about inheriting a Sunrun solar panel system.               

Here at Sunrun, we’ve transferred thousands of solar customer agreements from one homeowner to another. We've made this process as smooth as possible because we know you've got enough on your plate with moving.     

In this guide, we’ll explain everything you need to know about purchasing a house with solar panels so you can start enjoying clean energy from day one.                  

What type of solar panel system are you inheriting?     

The most important detail is understanding how the previous homeowner set up their solar energy system.                     

Here are the two common financial plans when installing solar panels with Sunrun.

*See customer agreement for details. IL 15-year agreement subject to separate terms.

The solar transfer process

Before you get started with any solar transfer, it's important to speak with the current homeowner or your realtor to understand exactly what type of solar agreement you'll be taking over and what terms it includes. This upfront conversation helps set clear expectations and ensures there are no surprises down the road.

Sunrun solar lease and power purchase agreement     

For homes with Sunrun solar panel leases and Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs), we coordinate directly with both the seller and buyer to ensure a smooth handoff with minimal paperwork on your end.                       

Here are the straightforward steps for buyers purchasing a home with leased solar panels:  

1. Visit our online portal to start the transfer process. This will initiate the entire process and move your file through our system.

2. Review the Sunrun Solar Agreement thoroughly so you understand the monthly payment structure, term length, and what's included in your ongoing service. 

3. Complete and submit the Service Transfer Form with your contact information and details about the home purchase. 

4. Apply for credit approval through a soft inquiry process that won't impact your credit score. Please note that this step doesn't apply to prepaid contracts since those are already paid in full.

5. After your home purchase finalizes, send us documentation confirming the sale, such as your closing paperwork or deed. 

Early communication and getting ahead of the timeline are key to a seamless transfer of leased solar panels. This proactive approach prevents any delays at closing and ensures you can start enjoying your leased solar panels from day one. 

Fully owned systems

When the previous homeowner purchased their solar energy system outright, the solar panels and equipment became part of the home's fixtures, just like the kitchen appliances or bathroom fixtures that convey with the property.       

While you won't have monthly payments to Sunrun, there are still important steps we help coordinate to ensure you get the maximum benefit from your inherited solar system.

What we help coordinate includes transferring warranties, updating monitoring access, and providing system documentation. We want you to feel confident about operating and maintaining your new solar investment, even though you didn't choose the original system yourself.

First-time home buyer Michael Naughton shares his simple path to going solar

Here at Sunrun, we pride ourselves on making this solar energy system transfer process super easy and hassle-free, just like a solar customer agreement with Sunrun.                         

With over 1 million U.S. customers now generating power using a home solar system, buying a house with solar panels from Sunrun already installed is an increasingly popular way to go solar for the first time. The good news is that there are a number of solar energy homes for sale today that have pre-installed solar panels ready for use. 

We caught up with happy Sunrun solar energy system customer Michael Naughton in Dedham, Mass., about his experience going solar as a first-time home buyer.

So, did you buy a house with leased solar panels already on it?

Yes, that’s right.       

We were looking to buy our first home and knew we wanted to stay there long-term. When we first scouted properties, we didn’t see too many homes for sale with the solar panel installation already done, so we had it in our minds that we’d add a solar energy system later. 

When we visited our new home, we were super happy with the property, and the fact that it was a house with solar panels already installed was the icing on the cake.

Why was solar power something you always knew you’d want?

We’re very environmentally conscious. My wife lived in California previously and grew accustomed to living sustainably, whether it be through composting and recycling whenever possible or using public transportation.

In Boston, we also had high electricity utility bills. We have a 7-month old daughter now and budgeting is a priority for our family. We knew that we had to install solar panels as it was the right thing to do for the planet and for our finances.**

Let’s talk about the service transfer process. What was that like?

To be honest, I haven’t thought much about the service transfer process of the leased solar panels since we moved in at the end of last summer—it was that easy. 

The Sunrun solar transfer team made the process simple by communicating regularly with me about the required forms for the leased solar panel system transfer. 

There was a good amount of coordination between the parties (sellers, realtors, ourselves, and the utility company) for this power purchase agreement, but Sunrun managed it all seamlessly.

So would you say the future’s bright for renewable energy?

Absolutely. I love that my daughter will grow up thinking installing solar power is the norm. I’m proud that we’re setting a good example for her. I try to spread the word about leasing solar panels whenever possible. I’m actually in the process of convincing my parents to get solar panels installed right now.                

Understanding battery plus grid-tied systems

Many Sunrun customers enhance their solar energy systems with battery storage while staying connected to the utility grid.            

If you inherit a home with this configuration, you're getting the best of both worlds. Energy independence when you need it and grid reliability as your backup. 

During normal operation, your solar panels generate energy during the day. When the sun goes down, your battery allows you to power your home with the solar energy you've stored. This significantly reduces your need to pull energy from the grid at night, and for those with peak rate hours, it helps you avoid paying the most expensive utility rates. If the home you're buying includes battery storage, you're inheriting a complete energy independence solution that works around the clock. During the transfer process, we'll walk you through how to monitor and optimize your battery usage through the Sunrun app, so you can maximize energy independence from day one.

Net metering lets your solar system send excess electricity to the utility grid when your panels produce more power than your home needs, potentially earning you credits on your utility bill.²   

Warranty, service and maintenance responsibilities

One of the biggest concerns for solar buyers is the fear of future repair costs. With a Sunrun system, this worry is largely eliminated. If the system is owned outright, it's still protected by strong manufacturer warranties, typically 25 years for the solar panels.³

However, if you're taking over a house with solar panels subject to  a lease or PPA, you inherit comprehensive coverage that includes all parts and labor. This hands-off approach includes:                 

• Proactive 24/7 monitoring that detects issues, even before you notice them.

• Equipment replacement, repairs, and regular maintenance.*

• 10-year roof penetration warranty.

• Real-time solar production tracking, benchmarked against expected performance based on weather and system specs.

• Full coverage for any parts and labor required for repairs.

If you buy a house with leased solar panels, the subscription transfers seamlessly, allowing you to step directly into the existing agreement and retain all coverage and benefits. This turns your solar system from a “set it and forget it” appliance into an actively managed energy service, just the way modern homeowners expect their technology to perform.      

Your solar journey continues with America's #1 solar partner

Buying a home with solar panels from Sunrun isn't just about inheriting panels on your roof. From the moment you submit your transfer paperwork, we handle the complexity so you can simply enjoy the benefits.                 

Our dedicated Service Transfer team has perfected this process through thousands of successful handoffs, turning what could be a stressful part of home buying into one seamless step.

As Michael Naughton discovered, stepping into a house with solar panels means you're not just getting abundant energy. You're getting peace of mind. You can focus on making your new house a home while we ensure your solar system continues delivering reliable, cost-effective power for decades to come.