The short answer
Most cancellation windows end within days of signing, and some end at installation. Once the system is installed, getting out usually depends on one of four things: how the contract was sold, whether required paperwork was missing, what the lender is responsible for, or what the contract allows.
How it was sold
Misrepresentations do not expire when the panels go up. If you were told your bill would disappear, the system was free, you would get a tax credit you did not qualify for, or you were signing something other than a contract, those statements can matter for years. So can pressure tactics, a salesperson filling in your loan application, or a contract signed on a tablet you never got to read. See misled by a solar salesperson.
Were you misled about your solar?
Tell us what happened. It takes about two minutes, and you decide what happens next.
See my optionsMissing paperwork and disclosures
Many laws require specific documents: a copy of the signed contract, a cancellation notice, a solar disclosure form, or a contractor license number. If they were missing, the cancellation window may never have started, or the contract may be unenforceable in part. Compare what you received against your state’s page on our state solar laws hub.
Also check whether the system was ever permitted, inspected, and given permission to operate by your utility. A system that never turned on is a different problem from one that underperforms.
The lender’s responsibility
If the installer arranged your loan, your contract may include the FTC Holder Rule notice, which lets you raise claims against the lender that you could raise against the seller, generally up to what you have paid. This is especially important when the installer has gone out of business. See what to do if your solar company went out of business.
If the loan took a security interest in your home, an attorney can tell you whether the federal right to rescind certain home-secured loans applies. That right normally lasts three business days, but it can extend up to three years when required disclosures were not given.
What the contract allows
Even without a claim, you may be able to buy out a lease, prepay a PPA, refinance or pay off a loan, or transfer the agreement when you sell your home. See the lease, PPA, and loan guides.
Common questions
The system never worked. Do I still have to pay?
Contracts often tie payments to installation, not performance, so do not stop paying without advice. A system that was never turned on is a strong basis for a complaint and possibly a claim.
Can they remove the panels and cancel?
Some companies agree to removal as part of a settlement. Removal can damage a roof, so get the terms and repair responsibility in writing.
Does a roof leak give me a way out?
It can support a warranty claim or a complaint, and sometimes a broader claim. Document the leak with photos and dates.
Sources
- 12 CFR 1026.23: Right of rescission (CFPB). Three business days, extended up to three years in some cases
- FDIC: FTC Rule on Preservation of Claims and Defenses (Holder Rule). Claims against the holder of a seller-arranged loan
- CFPB: Issue Spotlight, Solar Financing (August 2024). Common misleading claims in solar sales
General information, not legal advice.
This guide can’t tell you whether a right applies to your agreement. For that, talk with a licensed attorney in your state.