Answers for Northern Ireland

Back to previous page

Question: 5.14.1. Does the lender require me to report to them where the lease does not meet the UK Finance minimum requirements for leases of roof space for solar PV panels?

Lender Answer
Accord Mortgages Ltd Yes. See 4.1.1.2 for contact details.
Atom Bank plc Atom will not lend on a property where solar panels are subject to a lease arrangement against the roof and roof air space.

Atom will consider properties with solar panels where the applicant(s) is funding the purchase of panels themselves or via additional borrowing, providing they are doing so with no creation of any long-term lease arrangement with the panel provider. A condition will be attached to the offer of advance that lending is subject to the appropriate planning permission and consents being in place.

You must report the ownership/lease arrangements and any borrowing used to fund the purchase of any such panels at the earliest opportunity.
Aviva Equity Release UK Ltd Yes - see 1.10
Bank of Ireland (UK) plc Yes
Bank of Ireland as Bank of Ireland Mortgages Yes
Bank of Scotland Beginning A Yes (see 1.10a for contact details)
Bank of Scotland Beginning O Yes (see 1.10a for contact details)
Barclays Bank UK PLC  
Birmingham Midshires Yes (see 1.10a for contact details)
Bradford & Bingley Limited  
Britannia, a trading name of The Co-operative Bank plc  
Chelsea Building Society (a trading name of Yorkshire BS) Yes - as 4.1.1.2.
CHL Mortgages Yes
Co-operative Bank plc Yes. Please also ensure that we have an unconditional right to break the lease in the event of possession.
Coventry Building Society Yes. as 1.11a. For details of additional requirements see paragraph 5.14.3 below.
Danske Bank We do not accept properties where solar panels have been installed and are subject to any type of lease or licence agreement.

However, please notify us at the contact point at 1.11 if the solar panels have been installed at the property and the panels are owned outright by the seller or the borrower.
First Direct The Lease of Rights (relating to roof space for solar PV panels) must meet the UKF minimum standards. If the lease does not meet the UKF minimum standards and you are unable to agree a variation to ensure the lease meets the UKF minimum requirements, the case cannot proceed and you should advise the applicants and us. We do not require a copy of the lease.
First Trust Bank We do not accept a lease arrangement (of the roof space) for Solar PV panels.
GE Money Home Lending Ltd GE Money Home Lending has withdrawn from the UK mortgage market.
Godiva Mortgages Ltd Yes. As 1.11a. For details of additional requirements see paragraph 5.14.3 below.
Halifax Yes (see 1.10a for contact details)
Halifax Loans Ltd Yes (see 1.10a for contact details)
Hampden & Co. plc  
HSBC UK Bank plc The Lease of Rights (relating to roof space for solar PV panels) must meet the UKF minimum standards.

If the lease does not meet the UKF minimum standards and you are unable to agree a variation to ensure the lease meets the UKF minimum requirements, the case cannot proceed and you should advise the applicants and us.

We do not require a copy of the lease.

HSMS  
Intelligent Finance Yes (see 1.10a for contact details)
ITL Mortgages Yes. as 1.11a. For details of additional requirements see paragraph 5.14.3 below.
Kensington Mortgage Company Ltd We do not accept properties with solar panels.
Landmark Mortgages Limited Yes
Leeds Building Society Yes. Please refer to Mortgage Lending Department (please see 1.11a).
We also require confirmation that the solar panel installation and associated lease comply with the requirements as set out in our Solar Panel Pack for Legal Advisors, available at;
http://www.leedsbuildingsociety.co.uk/intermediaries/forms/solicitors/.
Lloyds Bank plc Yes ( see 1.10a for contact details)
Lloyds TSB Scotland plc Yes (see 1.10a for contact details)
M&S Bank no
Mortgage Express  
Mortgage Express (No 2)  
National Westminster Bank plc No. We do not accept any lease arrangement for solar PV panels, only a lease of rights. The CML minimum requirements must be met and template letter submitted.
Nationwide Building Society We do not accept a lease arrangement (of the roof space) only a lease of rights (over the roof space). Please arrange for a deed of variation to be entered into on or before completion to ensure the UK Finance minimum requirements are met.If this is not possible advise the applicants and the issuing office the UK Finance minimum requirements cannot be met and the case cannot proceed.
New Street Mortgages New Street requires you to report all leases of roof space and/or air space above for solar PV panels, and before you can proceed you must obtain New Street's's consent to the lease. The lease must meet New Street's own minimum requirements and we will require the solar panel company to enter into a deed of agreement with New Street. New Street's minimum requirements and deed of agreement are available on request. Please ensure that you report the solar panel lease to us and seek to obtain New Street's consent to the lease at the earliest opportunity and, in any event, prior to exchange of contracts. Please do not proceed until we have confirmed that you may do so.
NRAM Ltd  
Platform (a trading name of The Co-operative Bank p.l.c.)  
Sainsbury's Bank The case cannot proceed if the terms of the Lease don’t meet the minimum CML requirements.
Santander UK plc The UK Finance minimum requirements must be met. You must notify the Mortgage Operations office instructing you of the existence of a lease and provide the name of the tenant.
Scottish Widows Bank Yes (see 1.10a for contact details)
The Mortgage Business Yes (see 1.10a for contact details)
The Royal Bank of Scotland plc  
TSB Bank plc  
Ulster Bank  
Virgin Money Mortgage Processing
Operations
Virgin Money
Jubilee House
Gosforth
Newcastle upon Tyne
NE3 4PL
or
DX 60350 Gosforth
Solicitors Helpline: 0845 604 4858
Yorkshire Building Society Yes. See 4.1.1.2 for contact details.