Moving house with solar in Perth: what happens to your system?

If you're planning to sell a Perth home with solar — or buy one — there are several practical questions that come up: Does the solar system stay with the house? Can you take the panels with you? What happens to your DEBS credits? How does solar affect the sale price? Here's a clear guide.

Does solar stay with the house when you sell?

In almost all cases, yes. A solar system is a fixture — permanently attached to the property's roof and electrical system. Under standard Australian property law and the Real Estate Institute of WA's standard sale contract, fixtures are included in the sale unless specifically excluded.

What this means in practice:

• If you sell your home, the solar panels, inverter, and any installed battery go with the house unless you explicitly exclude them in the sale contract
• Excluding solar from a sale is uncommon and would typically reduce the perceived value of the property
• Removing a solar system requires filling the roof penetrations, reinstating the electrical switchboard to its pre-solar state, and is not cheap to do properly

In short: budget emotionally for leaving your solar system with the property.

What about DEBS credits?

Your DEBS (Distributed Energy Buyback Scheme) credits accumulate on your Synergy account, not on the property. When you close your Synergy account (at settlement or shortly after), any outstanding DEBS credits are:

1. Applied against any outstanding balance on your account
2. Paid out to you if you have a credit balance

You do not lose your accumulated DEBS credits at settlement — they're on your account and are refunded or applied when the account closes. Synergy's billing cycle is bimonthly, so you may have 1–2 months of accumulated credits at time of settlement.

The new owner of the property registers a new Synergy account for the property. They start with zero DEBS credits and begin accumulating from settlement date.

NCN and solar connection to the new owner

The Network Connection Notice (NCN) and the inverter's export approval are associated with the property's connection point at Western Power's network, not with you as an individual. When the new owner opens their Synergy account, the solar system continues operating under the existing NCN.

The new owner does not need to re-apply for an NCN for an existing, approved system. They simply open a Synergy account and the solar starts billing them correctly.

However: the new owner should confirm the system details (size, inverter model, approval reference) are correct on their new Synergy account, as errors can occasionally persist from old account setups.

Solar system warranty and the new owner

Product warranties (panels, inverters, batteries) generally transfer with the system to a new owner — they're attached to the product, not to the original buyer. However:

• The CEC-accredited installer's workmanship warranty (typically 5 years) is more likely to be honoured if the original installer is still in business and can trace the installation
• Panel manufacturer warranties are enforced through the manufacturer's Australian distributor — new owners can submit warranty claims in the same way as the original owner
• Keep all documentation: the system handover pack (installer paperwork, NCN, STCs, inverter manual, monitoring setup details) and hand it to the new owner at settlement

If documentation is missing: the new owner can typically obtain installation records from Western Power (via the NCN number), from Synergy (account solar details), or from the original installer if they're still operating.

How solar affects sale price in Perth

Research and agent experience in Perth suggests a well-maintained solar system adds value to a property, but the relationship is not one-to-one with installation cost:

• Large, quality system: A 10kW+ system with battery in good condition, with documentation, typically adds $8,000–$20,000 to buyer willingness-to-pay relative to an equivalent non-solar home
• Older or undersized system: A 1.5kW system installed in 2010 with an aging inverter may add minimal value or even raise maintenance concerns for buyers
• Battery included: A functional home battery adds meaningful value given Perth's high electricity prices and DEBS dynamics

Marketing solar in a sale: Provide buyers with:

• Annual generation figures (from inverter monitoring)
• Annual savings estimates based on your Synergy bills
• Documentation showing the system is approved, connected, and under warranty

Buyers who can see actual performance data — rather than installed capacity alone — are better equipped to assess the value, and it strengthens your negotiating position.

If you're buying a house with solar

Before settlement, check:

1. Confirm the system is grid-connected and approved (ask for the NCN)
2. Ask for the last 12 months of Synergy bills showing solar generation and DEBS credits
3. Confirm the inverter is operational (ask the seller to show you the monitoring platform during the inspection)
4. Check the inverter age — if it's 10+ years old, budget for potential inverter replacement ($1,000–$3,500)
5. Get the system handover pack including inverter manual, installer details, warranty certificates

At settlement:

• Open your Synergy account and notify them you're the new occupant of a solar-connected property
• They will set up DEBS on your account — you should see DEBS credits appearing from your first bill

Can you take the solar panels with you?

Physically, yes — but it's almost never worth it. The reasons:

• Removing panels voids the workmanship warranty and potentially the roof penetration warranties
• The new property may need a new NCN, new tilt frames (different pitch/orientation), and re-wiring — re-installation costs often exceed the value of the equipment
• The original property's value suffers
• Standard sale contracts include fixtures — excluding them requires buyer agreement

The practical answer for the overwhelming majority of Perth households: the solar stays.

When you sell a Perth home, the solar system goes with the property as a fixture. Your accumulated DEBS credits are paid out when you close your Synergy account — they don't transfer to the buyer. The NCN and system approvals carry over to the new owner's account automatically. A quality solar + battery system adds $8,000–$20,000 to Perth property values in the current market. Buyers should check inverter age, request actual generation data, and confirm the system handover pack at settlement.