Buildings Insurance Guide

Buildings insurance for solar and backup power

Written by Lerato Molefe Personal Insurance Writer Reviewed by Nomsa Dlamini RE5 qualified · 12 years in short-term insurance Updated 28 July 2026 Our editorial standards →

Does buildings insurance cover solar panels, inverters and batteries?

A permanently fixed solar and backup power system - roof-mounted panels, a wall-mounted inverter and batteries - is usually covered under buildings insurance, but only if you have declared it and increased your sum insured to include its replacement cost. An undeclared system may be under-insured or lead to a rejected claim. Portable, plug-in power stations are not fixed to the building and belong on your contents policy instead.

Key takeaways

A fixed, permanently installed solar system is generally covered under buildings insurance.
You must declare the installation and add its replacement cost to your sum insured.
Portable, plug-in power stations sit under contents cover, not buildings.
Undeclared systems risk under-insurance, the average clause, or a rejected claim.
Keep the invoice and a compliant installation certificate to support any future claim.

Why solar changed home insurance in South Africa

Years of load-shedding pushed thousands of households to install solar panels, inverters and battery backup, often at a cost running well into six figures. That has made these systems some of the most valuable additions to the average South African home - and a real gap if they are not insured. Because a fixed system is bolted to the roof and wired into the house, it is treated as part of the building, which means it belongs on your buildings policy, not left uninsured or wrongly assumed to be covered.

Fixed system versus portable unit

The dividing line is whether the equipment is permanently installed. Roof-mounted panels, a wall-mounted inverter and fixed batteries form part of the structure and fall under buildings cover. A plug-in portable power station or a small generator you can pick up and move is not attached to the building and is covered under contents instead. Getting this right matters, because claiming on the wrong policy - or assuming a fixed system is automatically covered - leads to declined claims.

Declaring the installation

The essential step is telling your insurer. When you install solar, notify them and increase your sum insured by the full replacement cost of the system, so the rebuild figure reflects the panels, inverter and batteries. Keep the installation invoice, and obtain the electrical certificate of compliance - many insurers require proof that a registered installer did the work. Without a declaration, the system may not be counted in your cover, and you could be under-insured across the whole property.

What can go wrong if it is undeclared

An undeclared solar system creates two problems. First, because it adds significant value that is not in your sum insured, it can push you into under-insurance and trigger the average clause on any claim, not just a solar one. Second, if the panels or batteries are damaged or stolen and were never declared, the insurer may decline that claim outright. Panels and batteries are increasingly targeted by thieves, so theft cover - and having declared the system - genuinely matters.

What is covered, and what is not

Once declared, a fixed system is generally covered for the same insured events as the rest of the building - fire, storm, lightning, theft and impact. Power-surge damage to an inverter may be covered but is sometimes an optional extension, so check the wording. What is not covered is mechanical or electronic breakdown, wear and tear, or a system that simply stops working with age. As with the rest of the policy, cover is for sudden, unforeseen damage, not the equipment reaching the end of its life.

Frequently asked questions

Are solar panels covered by buildings insurance?

A permanently fixed solar system - roof-mounted panels, a wall-mounted inverter and batteries - is generally covered under buildings insurance, provided you have declared it and added its replacement cost to your sum insured. Undeclared systems may not be covered.

Do I need to tell my insurer about solar and a battery?

Yes. You must declare the installation and increase your sum insured by its full replacement cost. Failing to do so can leave you under-insured across the whole property and may cause a solar-related claim to be rejected.

Are portable power stations covered by buildings or contents?

Contents. A plug-in portable power station or a movable generator is not attached to the building, so it is insured under your contents policy rather than buildings. Only permanently installed systems fall under buildings cover.

Does insurance cover solar panel theft?

It can, if the fixed system is declared on your buildings policy and theft is an insured event. Panels and batteries are increasingly targeted, so declaring the system and confirming theft cover is worthwhile. Undeclared equipment risks a rejected claim.

Does buildings insurance cover power surge damage to my inverter?

Sometimes. Power-surge or lightning damage to a declared inverter may be covered, but surge cover is occasionally an optional extension rather than standard. Check your policy wording, as mechanical or electronic breakdown and wear and tear are excluded.

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