Solar panels and your house insurance in New Zealand

Solar panels fixed to your home are generally covered under the house section of your home insurance policy, in the same way as other permanent fixtures. Panels that aren't attached to the house may fall under contents instead. Cover depends on your sum insured being high enough to rebuild the house including the system, and on your insurer knowing that the solar panels are there.

Solar power may be one of the biggest decisions you'll make for your home, and insurance might be the last thing on your mind. You might have compared quotes, picked an installer, and worked out the payback period, but the policy sitting in your inbox hasn’t come up once.

Generally, most New Zealanders talk to their electrician or installer about solar, not their broker. A recent nationwide survey¹ found that 40% of Kiwis are likely to install solar within five years, and 6% already have. Only 8% have checked what it means for their insurance.

This guide can help to fill that gap. We'll walk you through how your solar panels may be covered under your house insurance, why it might be worth letting your insurer know about them, what your roof has to do with any of this, and provide some questions you might want to ask a solar power expert or installer before you sign anything. If you want tailored insurance advice, you can find a broker who can check your policy against your specific installation.

Are solar panels covered by House Insurance?

Yes, panels fixed to your home are generally covered under the house section of your policy, the same way as any other permanent fixture like your roof or your hot water cylinder. Panels that aren't attached to the structure, such as a freestanding ground-mounted array, may sit under your contents cover instead.

Either way, cover only works if your house and contents cover reflects what's actually on the property. Your sum insured needs to be high enough to rebuild your home including the solar power system, not just the house as it stood before installation. We'll cover this in more detail below.

Do you need to tell your insurer about solar panels?

Yes. Solar power adds value to your home, and letting your insurer know can help to make sure your cover reflects the full value of your property, including the system. This applies whether you're planning an installation or you've just had the panels fitted.

Generally, the best time to have this conversation is before you commit to the install, not after. That way your broker can check your policy will respond the way you expect, and may flag anything you need to adjust, such as your sum insured. Keeping your insurer up to date can help to ensure you're adequately insured if you ever need to make a claim. If you've recently added solar power or you're about to, get in touch with your broker and update your file.

Will solar panels change your premium or sum insured?

Your sum insured is the practical thing to look at first. Adding solar power can increase what it would cost to rebuild your home, and a valuation done before installation won't have accounted for the system. If your sum insured doesn't move with it, you could end up underinsured.

Whether your premium changes is a separate question, and it depends on your specific policy and circumstances. Your broker is best placed to walk you through that. 

What does your roof have to do with it?

Your roof needs to be confirmed as capable of carrying the extra weight and handling changed wind loading before installation, not after. This is a design question, and it's typically governed by New Zealand standards for safely installing solar arrays, along with your local council's consent requirements and your network distributor's approval for grid connection.

It may also be worth checking that your roof doesn't contain combustible materials, and thinking about how much life your roof has left. If the roof needs replacing down the track, the panels will need to come off and go back on again, which can add complexity and cost.

It's worth knowing that a property valuation doesn't usually check this. A valuation looks at market value, not structural suitability for solar power. So if nobody's specifically confirmed your roof can take the system, that's worth raising with an appropriate solar power expert and your broker before you go ahead. If your roof is damaged during the installation itself, rather than by a later insured event like a storm, how that's treated will depend on your specific policy wording.

What happens after a storm?

After a storm, check your solar power system from ground level and call a professional if anything looks off. Loose panels, visible damage, or a sudden drop in performance are all signs that may be worth acting on quickly.

We'd rather you didn't climb onto the roof to check this yourself. It's not worth the risk, and a qualified installer or electrician can assess the system safely. If storm damage affects your land or wider property, Natural Hazards Commission Toka Tū Ake may also be relevant depending on the nature of the event. Your broker can help you work out who to call first.

Are solar batteries covered too?

Briefly, yes, though the detail differs from panels. A battery that's permanently installed is generally covered under the house section, similar to the panels themselves, while a portable battery may sit under contents. Location, ventilation, and installation standard can all affect the risk profile.

Because batteries bring their own set of considerations, including fire risk and installation standards, we've covered them in our Risk Profiler guide. It may be worth reading before you add storage to an existing system or a new one.

What to ask before you install

You may want to run these questions by an appropriate expert installer:

• Is the installer registered with the Electrical Workers Registration Board (EWRB)? You can check this yourself on the public register.
• Has the installer worked on your specific roof type before? Tile, long-run steel, and membrane roofs can all behave differently under a solar panel array.
• Who inspects and certifies the finished installation?
• What warranties apply to the panels, inverter, battery, mounting system, and the installer's own workmanship?
• What does the supplier contract say about limitation of liability?
• What ongoing maintenance is included, and what isn't?
• What documents will you be given once the job is done?

What paperwork to keep

Keep these documents somewhere safe. You may need them for insurance discussions, warranty claims, or any future service work.

• Certificate of Compliance
• Electrical Safety Certificate
• Record of Inspection
• Installer registration details, confirmed against the EWRB public register
• Warranty documents for panels, inverter, and battery
• Maintenance records
• Commissioning data from the installer

A quick note worth remembering: an invoice is not necessarily a certifying document. It's easy to assume paying for the work is proof the work meets standard, but a receipt doesn't show compliance. If you've only got an invoice, follow up with your installer and ask for documents confirming certification.

Frequently Asked Questions

Next Steps

Solar power is a significant investment in your home, and a few conversations now could save you a lot of hassle later. Tell your insurer about your plans, check your sum insured reflects the full system, and ask your installer for the paperwork that actually proves compliance.

If you're not sure where to start, find a broker who can walk through your policy with you and make sure your cover keeps pace with your roof.