A property expert warns against the hidden costs of rooftop solar and urges homeowners to comply with the law.
While the race to move away from an unstable national power grid has sparked a massive rooftop solar boom across South Africa, Paul Stevens, CEO of Just Property, warns homeowners about the danger of getting into a “solar debt trap”.
Beyond the initial capital outlay, he says, the surge in non-compliant installations, evolving municipal penalties, and strict new insurance requirements are creating financial burdens that, unless planned for, could outweigh the savings on monthly electricity bills.
As local authorities and Eskom prepare to enforce hefty fines, with unregistered systems facing penalties of R6,000 to R30,000 by the newly extended September 2026 deadline, Stevens urges owners to address the rigorous compliance that goes with going off the grid.
“We are seeing a worrying trend in which homeowners view solar as a ‘set-and-forget’ solution to load shedding. In reality, an uncertified or unregistered system isn’t an asset; it’s a legal and financial liability that can derail a property sale.”
