# Rent Your Roof for Solar: How Building Owners Earn From Unused Roof Space

Renting your roof for solar means letting a funder install panels on your building at no cost to you, either for a rental income or to buy the electricity generated at a fixed rate at least 30% below the grid. You keep the roof; they own and maintain the system.

## How do you actually earn from your roof?

There are two common routes. In the first, a funder pays you a rent for the roof space and takes the electricity, usually selling it to your tenants or exporting it. In the second, you host the system and buy its output yourself under a PPA, paying a fixed rate at least 30% below the grid.

Which route pays best depends on how much electricity is used in the building. If you or your tenants have high daytime demand, buying the solar directly tends to beat a flat roof rent, because you avoid expensive grid units. If the building sits empty by day, a rental income may suit better.

## What makes a roof worth renting for solar?

Funders look for a large, sound roof with years of life left, decent orientation, and light shading. Warehouses, factories, farm buildings and retail units often fit well. They also want a straightforward grid connection and a clear owner able to sign a long agreement, usually around 20 years.

A structural survey confirms the roof can carry the panels, and a feasibility study models likely output. If the roof needs re-covering soon, that is worth sorting first, since taking panels off and putting them back is expensive.

## What are the commitments and the catch?

Hosting solar means a long-term arrangement, commonly tied to a lease or a rooftop agreement that can bind future owners and affect a sale or refinance. The funder needs access to install and maintain, and rights over the roof for the term. Read these clauses with a solicitor before signing.

Ownership of the system usually stays with the funder until the end of the term, when it can pass to you, often for a nominal sum such as the £1 buyout. Confirm the tax and property implications with your accountant and solicitor, as they depend on your situation.

## Frequently asked questions

**Does renting my roof for solar cost me anything?**

No. The funder pays for the panels, installation, insurance and maintenance. You provide the roof and, in a host-and-buy PPA, agree to buy the electricity at a fixed rate at least 30% below the grid. There is no upfront cost to you.

**Will a rooftop solar agreement affect selling the building?**

It can. A long agreement or lease over the roof usually passes to the next owner and can come up in a sale or refinance. Buyers may see cheaper power as a plus, but you should have a solicitor review the terms before you commit.

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Source: [Rent Your Roof for Solar: How Building Owners Earn From Unused Roof Space](https://ppafunding.com/guides/rent-your-roof-for-solar) · Author: PPA Funding team · Updated: 2026-08-03

PPA Funding is an independent introducer operated by DVC Group Ltd (Companies House 10462808), Shrewsbury — not the funder, the installer or the maintenance provider. The service is free to use; a commission may be earned from a partner at no extra cost. Content is educational and is not financial or tax advice.