A Florida couple seemed to get a sweet deal on solar panels advertised as free with their new home. A year and a half later, they opened a letter and realized they could be stuck with a $45,000 loan.
One of the homeowners shared their unfortunate discovery on Reddit’s r/legaladvice forum after refinancing their mortgage raised questions about the ownership of the solar panels. The property listing on Zillow featured “FREE SOLAR PANELS!!!!” in the description – and were assured several times, including during closing, that no debt remained on the equipment.
“We’re not sure what to do. Should we just ignore it?” wrote the original poster. “The loan is not in our name, and we never agreed to take the loan, so we certainly cannot be held responsible for the balance. But does that mean we don’t have the panels?”
Their contract stated that the OP and their spouse bought the house with “all existing improvements and fixtures…unless specifically excluded”; solar panels were never mentioned. The solar lender would not provide information without permission from the account holder, who had died.
Going solar can save you a lot of money on your utility bills, but the couple’s troubling experience shows why it’s important to work with transparent and reliable solar providers. TCD’s Solar Explorer can help you save up to $10,000 by connecting you with verified installers who provide trusted service to save you big bucks.
Reputable solar partners always provide transparent pricing information and quality customer support from the jump. You deserve to know exactly what you are paying for when you upgrade your home systems.
• EnergySage can help you save up to $10,000 on an installation by curating competitive bids from local installers
• Not ready to spend up front? Palmetto’s $0 down LightReach solar lease program can lower your utility rate by up to 20%
• Solar Explorer makes it easy to access exclusive offers from preferred partners
Pairing your solar with an electrical appliance can drive your utility costs even lower, and the HVAC Explorer can help you find the right system for your circumstances, reducing energy bills by up to 50%. The free Palmetto Home app can also unlock up to $5,000 in eco-friendly home improvement rewards by taking simple everyday actions.
As for the OP, fellow Redditors shared their thoughts on the tough circumstance.