Solar panel cases becoming hot topic
A YORKSHIRE law firm believes cases involving protests about the installation of solar panels could be set to rise.
Judith Pike, partner at Leeds-based Walker Morris, said increased numbers of cases brought by disgruntled landlords were coming before the courts.
Ms Pike said although those bringing the cases against people wanting to erect solar panels for both residential and business premises had had little success to date, the issue was becoming increasingly prevalent.
Recent cases include one brought by a party protesting about a rights of light issue and another that saw the Leasehold Valuation Tribunal conclude that a landlord’s refusal to grant consent for panels to be erected by tenants in leasehold properties on safety and aesthetic grounds was unreasonable.
Ms Pike said: “We think the interesting thrust on this is that people are going to support solar.
Everyone can see the need for solar energy. It’s all about progression and changing attitudes.”
Fellow partner Richard Outhwaite said it was disappointing that the Government’s proposals to cut the feed-in tariff for those installing solar panels after December 12 was disappointing, the backlash about the move demonstrated the support for solar.
Walker Morris, meanwhile, has created a ‘Green Real Estate Group’ to focus on the specific property needs of the energy and renewables market.
The group forms part of the firm’s ‘Renewable, Energy and Resources Group’.
Ms Pike said: “Over recent years there has been a considerable focus on the production of renewable power and energy generation and it’s a market, that as a firm, we’ve been very active in.
“We recognise that our clients in this sector are increasingly looking for expertise in real estate law and so we are dedicating resources to focus on this sector specifically.
“Most renewable and energy transactions involve land issues – plant has to be built somewhere, pipe lines pass through land and clients working in this sector have significant land interests and many are looking to re-use redundant land for renewable and energy projects. There are also important issues such as mines and minerals, royalty rents and other factors that are quite distinct to this market.”
