The Duchy of Cornwall’s published net zero commitment mentions its tenants, but we found no published rule on solar requests, so this page makes no claim about what the Duchy accepts or requires. It covers the law and what to put in a written request.
What the Duchy publishes
The Duchy’s Net Zero page commits it to net zero by the end of 2032 and says it works with tenants and partners towards that goal; it does not mention solar. An article on a 300-acre tenant Focus Farm in Cornwall describes a net zero plan set out when the tenancy began, again without mentioning solar.
Which law governs your tenancy
A request to put solar on a let building begins with the tenancy agreement. Check its date, any clause on alterations or improvements, and who repairs the roof. Whether it falls under the Agricultural Holdings Act 1986 (the 1986 Act) or the Agricultural Tenancies Act 1995 (the 1995 Act) decides how the law below treats anything you fix to the building.
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 a farm business tenancy, section 16 of the 1995 Act gives compensation at the end of the tenancy for a tenant’s improvement, but not for a physical improvement that has been removed. Section 17 makes the landlord’s written consent a condition; it can sit in the tenancy or be given separately, and may depend on an agreed change to the terms.
Who repairs the roof under the array
A roof array depends on the roof under it. Under the 1973 repairing regulations, as made, roof repairs and replacements fall mainly to the landlord of an agricultural holding, with some tenant duties, unless a written agreement says otherwise, so a failing roof is a conversation to have first. solar panel weight and roof loading lists the questions for a structural engineer, and solar panels on asbestos cement farm roofs covers asbestos cement.
What to put in the written request
Put the request in writing, with:
- roof photographs and dimensions;
- system size, layout and fixing method;
- a structural engineer’s assessment;
- who pays and who owns the array (see farm solar cost guide and grants and funding);
- insurance, grid connection and the position at the end of the tenancy.
solar panels for agricultural buildings covers the building and system, and tenant farmer solar and landlord consent gives background. The pages for institutional landlords (NFU Mutual), the Wellcome Trust and Bedford Estates follow the same checklist.
| Point on this page | Source | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Net zero by end of 2032; works with tenants; solar not mentioned | Duchy of Cornwall, Net Zero | undated |
| Tenant farm with a net zero plan from the start of the tenancy; solar not mentioned | Duchy of Cornwall, first net zero Focus Farm | 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 | 1995 Act s.16, s.17, s.67 | current text |
| Who repairs and replaces roofs under the 1973 regulations | SI 1973/1473, Fixed Equipment Regulations | 1973, as made |
Common questions
Does the Duchy of Cornwall publish a solar policy for tenants?
Nothing on the pages cited describes one for the Duchy of Cornwall (checked 20 October 2026). Ask the land agent whether any standard terms exist and keep the reply.
Do I need the landlord’s consent to put panels on a let building?
Start with the alteration and improvement clauses in the tenancy agreement. Compensation is separate: it depends on written landlord consent under section 17 of the 1995 Act or, for long-term improvements, section 67 of the 1986 Act.
Which law applies to my tenancy?
Two regimes exist: the Agricultural Holdings Act 1986 for many older tenancies and the Agricultural Tenancies Act 1995 for farm business tenancies. A solicitor or land agent can confirm which yours is from the agreement.
Other estate-landlord and tenant-farmer pages
See the wider UK estate-landlord and tenant-farmer solar resource set: