Tenant consent for solar — the process
For tenant-installed solar, the standard UK commercial lease consent process: (1) Tenant writes formally requesting consent to install solar PV (MCS-accredited contractor, specified system). (2) Landlord has 28 days to respond (Building Act 1984 or lease terms — check which applies). (3) Landlord can require: structural survey report, contractor MCS accreditation proof, planning confirmation, insurance certificates, reinstatement covenant. (4) Standard institutional landlord response time: 4-8 weeks. (5) Green lease addendum signed — based on BBP Green Lease Toolkit. Most Prologis, Segro, GLP, Tritax, and Blackstone-owned assets have pre-approved green lease templates.
Green lease addenda — what they cover
The Better Buildings Partnership (BBP) Green Lease Toolkit (2023 edition) is the UK institutional standard. Core provisions for solar: tenant right to install solar PV on demised roof area; landlord retains access to roof for building maintenance; system remains tenant asset unless separately agreed; reinstatement on lease end is tenant obligation (or negotiated removal clause); monitoring data shared with landlord for GRESB/ESG reporting; energy performance covenant (tenant and landlord to maintain EPC rating). Institutional landlords (Prologis, Segro, GLP, Tritax) have all issued BBP-aligned green lease templates — typically signed within 4 weeks of initial request.
Landlord-owned solar — the EPC B strategy
For owner-occupied or void units, landlord-owned solar is the optimal MEES EPC B strategy. All let UK commercial property must reach EPC B by 1 April 2030 or face letting restrictions. Solar PV delivers 8-14 EPC point uplift — often sufficient to move a unit from EPC D to EPC B in a single intervention. Landlord-owned system advantages: landlord claims AIA; system enhances rental value and lease liquidity; attracts MEES-compliant tenants commanding premium rents; GRESB Green Star rating improves. Typical 1 MW system: 8-12 EPC points across 200,000 sqft unit.
Property value impact of warehouse solar
Solar PV adds measurable value to UK warehouse assets in 2026: (1) Rental premium: CBRE and Savills UK logistics reports (2024-25) record 3-8% rental premium for EPC A or B units vs comparable EPC D/E. (2) Yield compression: institutional ESG mandates create additional buyer demand for certified green assets — typical yield compression 15-25bps for EPC B vs EPC D. (3) GRESB Green Star: GRESB-rated REITs (Prologis, Segro, GLP, Tritax) score renewable energy directly — solar is a direct GRESB credit. (4) Void reduction: EPC B+ units are letting faster in all major UK logistics markets in 2025-26.
REIT ESG reporting requirements
UK-listed logistics REITs face mandatory ESG disclosure: TCFD (mandatory for large companies FY2023+); GRESB annual survey; EPRA Sustainability BPR; FCA SFDR (for fund vehicles). Solar PV generation data is a direct input to GRESB Energy score (one of the five GRESB pillars). Segro, Prologis, GLP, and Tritax all have internal solar targets per sqm of portfolio floor area. Landlords with strong solar coverage outperform peers on GRESB scores and attract lower cost of capital on green bonds.
Common questions
Can a landlord charge a tenant for solar consent?
A landlord can charge reasonable professional fees for reviewing a solar consent application (surveyor review, legal review of green lease addendum). Typical legitimate charges: £1,500-£3,500 for a single unit consent. Charging a premium or consent fee above professional costs is unusual and may be challenged. The Landlord and Tenant Act 1988 (where applicable) requires reasonable processing of applications. We assist tenants in drafting consent applications that minimise landlord concerns and accelerate approval.
What happens to tenant-installed solar at lease end?
Under standard UK commercial lease terms, tenant alterations (including solar PV) must be reinstated at lease end unless the landlord agrees otherwise. In practice: for systems installed under a BBP green lease addendum, landlords often negotiate a "keep or pay" option at lease end — landlord either retains the system (paying agreed residual value) or requires removal (at tenant cost). Negotiate the end-of-lease clause before installation — don't leave it ambiguous. We provide standard green lease solar clauses on request.