The Crown Estate manages land in several places; the only farm-related page we read is for the Windsor Estate. This page makes no claim about how either handles tenant solar. It gives the law for a tenancy in England and the questions to ask.
What the Windsor Estate publishes
The Windsor Estate page on windsorgreatpark.co.uk says the estate supports farms and a farm shop, lets property and is committed to net zero. Its renewable energy references, such as offshore wind, relate to The Crown Estate’s wider portfolio. It describes no tenant-farm policy, so ask the estate office what is in writing.
Which law governs your tenancy
Two Acts matter: the Agricultural Holdings Act 1986 (the 1986 Act), covering many older tenancies, and the Agricultural Tenancies Act 1995 (the 1995 Act), covering farm business tenancies. Both are marked on legislation.gov.uk as extending to England and Wales. Confirm which governs your agreement before drafting a request, because their rules on fixtures and compensation differ.
Removing what you fix to the building
Section 8 of the 1995 Act and section 10 of the 1986 Act both let a tenant remove some of what they add. Each excludes items installed under an obligation or in place of the landlord’s own, and each requires the tenant to avoid unnecessary damage. Neither mentions solar panels, so whether a roof array is a removable fixture is a question for your solicitor.
Consent and compensation
For an older tenancy, section 64 of the 1986 Act gives compensation for improvements listed in its schedules. Section 67 requires the landlord’s written consent for long-term improvements; for those in Part II of Schedule 7 a tenant can apply to the Tribunal if the landlord refuses. Section 66 measures compensation by the increase in the holding’s value, less any public grant.
Who repairs the roof under the array
The roof matters as much as the paperwork. For an agricultural holding, the 1973 repairing regulations, as made, put roof repairs and replacements mainly on the landlord unless a written agreement says otherwise, and give the tenant duties such as keeping gutters and valleys clear. A farm business tenancy turns on its own agreement. For asbestos cement sheets, read solar panels on asbestos cement farm roofs and overclad or strip an asbestos cement farm roof.
What the Rock Review says
The Rock Review (updated 24 May 2023) recommended consulting on legislation so tenants can diversify without a landlord unreasonably refusing consent. That is a recommendation, not a statute.
What to put in the written request
Draft the request so the agent can answer it directly:
- which building, with photographs;
- the array size and how it is fixed;
- the structural engineer’s conclusion (solar panel weight and roof loading);
- cost, ownership and tax treatment (farm solar cost guide, grants and funding);
- insurance, the grid application and what happens when the tenancy ends.
The same checklist is set out for tenants of Devonshire (Chatsworth), the Duchy of Cornwall and institutional landlords (NFU Mutual). Roof and system questions are in solar panels for agricultural buildings; tenant farmer solar and landlord consent gives background.
| Point on this page | Source | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Windsor Estate supports farms, committed to net zero; no tenant-farm solar policy | Windsor Great Park, The Windsor Estate | undated |
| Right to remove a tenant’s fixtures and buildings; exclusions and conditions apply | 1995 Act s.8, 1986 Act s.10 | current text |
| Written consent as a condition of compensation for improvements | 1986 Act s.64, s.66, s.67 | current text |
| Who repairs and replaces roofs under the 1973 regulations | SI 1973/1473, Fixed Equipment Regulations | 1973, as made |
| Recommendation to consult on tenant diversification | Rock Review summary, GOV.UK | May 2023 |
Common questions
Does the Crown Estate publish a solar policy for tenants?
Nothing on the pages cited describes one for the Crown Estate (checked 20 October 2026). Ask the land agent whether any standard terms exist and keep the reply.
Has the law changed to stop landlords refusing diversification?
Not on the page we read. The Rock Review recommended consulting on it, but a recommendation is not a statute. Check the current position with a solicitor.
Can I take the array with me when the tenancy ends?
Sections 8 (1995 Act) and 10 (1986 Act) give tenants a right to remove certain fixtures they attached, with exclusions. Whether panels qualify is for your solicitor, so get the landlord’s position in writing first.
Other estate-landlord and tenant-farmer pages
See the wider UK estate-landlord and tenant-farmer solar resource set: