Sunprint
The short answer
A solar system doesn't stop working because the company that installed it closed. What you lose is usually the installer's workmanship warranty and the phone number to call. Your loan or lease payments usually continue, because they're owed to a finance company, and the equipment warranties from the panel and inverter makers usually still apply.
This isn't a rare problem. An August 2026 Orlando news report listed Freedom Forever, Sunnova, SunPower, Titan Solar Power and several others among the solar companies that went bankrupt or shut down in the previous two years. The steps below apply whether your installer filed for bankruptcy or simply stopped answering the phone.
What to do this week
- Keep making your payments. Missing a loan or lease payment hurts your credit and can put you in default, even though the installer is gone.
- Gather your paperwork. The contract, the separate solar disclosure statement Florida requires, warranty documents, your monitoring app login, and any emails with the installer.
- Look up your permit. Your county or city building department's permit records are public. They show who pulled the permit, the equipment installed, and whether it passed final inspection.
- Call your utility. Ask whether your interconnection agreement was approved and whether your account is set up for net metering credits.
- Open your monitoring app. Check that the system is producing. If it isn't, that becomes the first job for whoever services it next.
- Find out who holds your agreement now. Call the company you send payments to and ask who services the system going forward.
Your loan or lease doesn't end
Most solar financing runs through a separate lender or leasing company, so the installer closing doesn't cancel what you owe. In the biggest recent bankruptcies, the agreements were handed to a successor rather than wiped out. SunStrong Management took over servicing SunPower's existing lease customers after SunPower's 2024 bankruptcy, and Sunnova's customers after Sunnova's assets were sold in 2025.
If you lease, the leasing company is usually also responsible for repairs under the lease, so the successor servicer is the first call when something breaks. Our solar lease guide covers how leases work, and our guide to selling a house with solar covers what happens at closing.
Which warranties survive
| Warranty | Who stands behind it | After the installer closes |
|---|---|---|
| Panel product and performance | The panel manufacturer | Usually still valid; claim directly with the manufacturer |
| Inverter or microinverters | The inverter manufacturer | Usually still valid; claim directly with the manufacturer |
| Workmanship and installation | The installer | Usually ends, unless a third party backs it |
| Roof leaks at mounting points | Usually the installer | Usually ends with the workmanship warranty |
| Lease repairs or production guarantee | The leasing company | Stays with the lease and passes to any successor |
Manufacturer warranties generally cover a replacement part, but not always the labor to swap it, so a repair can still cost you a service call. If the equipment maker has also left the U.S. market, check the warranty document for a third-party insurer or a successor company. If there's neither, repairs may be out of pocket.
Getting it serviced
Another licensed Florida contractor can take over the system. Many installers now take on systems other companies left behind, often called orphaned systems, usually for a diagnostic or service-call fee. Before you hire one:
- Verify the license at myfloridalicense.com. Our guide on how to check a solar company covers what to look for.
- Use your permit record to tell them exactly which panels and inverters you have. That also tells you which manufacturers to contact for warranty claims.
- Ask them to check the paperwork, not just the hardware: whether the permit was closed and whether your utility approved the interconnection.
- Ask to move your monitoring account into your own name if it was tied to the old installer, so you can see production yourself.
If it was installed but never turned on
This is one of the most common problems when an installer collapses mid-job: the panels are on the roof, but the final inspection or the utility approval never happened, so the system can't legally run. Central Florida and Tampa-area homeowners were reported in this situation in 2026, some with loan or lease payments already starting.
- Don't switch it on yourself. Florida utilities require an approved interconnection agreement before a system can operate on the grid.
- Check the permit status with your building department, and the interconnection status with your utility.
- Hire a licensed installer to finish the job. Closing out a permit and filing utility paperwork is routine work for another contractor, though they may need to re-inspect the installation first.
- Call your lender now, explain that the system isn't operating, and ask what options it offers. Put it in writing, and keep copies.
Getting deposit money back
If you paid a deposit and the work was never done, or you have an unresolved warranty claim, you have a few routes. None is guaranteed, and several have deadlines.
- File a proof of claim in the bankruptcy. Each case sets a deadline. Consumer deposits for household purchases get priority over most other unsecured claims, up to $3,800 per person in cases filed on or after April 1, 2025, but in a liquidation there may be little money to pay anyone.
- Dispute a credit card charge. If you paid by credit card for work that was never delivered, federal law lets you dispute it as a billing error in writing within 60 days after the statement showing the charge. After that, you may still be able to assert claims against the card issuer if the charge was over $50, made in your state or within 100 miles of home, and you first tried in good faith to resolve it with the company.
- Florida Homeowners' Construction Recovery Fund. This state fund can pay homeowners who lost money because a contractor licensed by the Construction Industry Licensing Board abandoned the job, mismanaged it, or falsely claimed subcontractors were paid. Certified solar contractors are covered for residential contracts signed after July 1, 2016, up to $15,000 per claim, or $30,000 for contracts signed on or after July 1, 2024. You first need a court judgment, arbitration award or board restitution order, you must show the contractor can't pay it, and the claim must be filed within 1 year after that action ends. Electrical contractors are licensed by a separate board under a different part of the law, so check which license your installer held.
Freedom Forever customers: Freedom Forever filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in Delaware on April 15, 2026, and the case was converted to a Chapter 7 liquidation on August 7, 2026. The court set a deadline of October 16, 2026 for customers with unfulfilled deposits or warranty claims to file a proof of claim, through the Delaware bankruptcy court's claims page. If you have a claim, don't wait for that date.
Watch for liens
Florida's construction lien law has a trap that surprises homeowners: if the installer didn't pay its subcontractors or equipment suppliers, they can file a lien on your home even if you paid the installer in full. The notice they send you says it plainly, warning that you could end up paying twice.
- A subcontractor or supplier who wants lien rights must serve you a Notice to Owner within 45 days of starting to work on your job. If you've received one, keep it.
- They must record the lien within 90 days of their last work or delivery on your project.
- If any balance is still unpaid, don't pay it to anyone without written lien releases from everyone who sent you a Notice to Owner.
If a lien shows up, talk to a Florida construction attorney before paying anything. You can also report the company to the Florida Attorney General's office at 1-866-966-7226, and report license problems to the Department of Business and Professional Regulation.
Your estimate in three steps
- Enter your billYour ZIP code, your utility and last month's bill.
- See your estimateA yearly savings range based on your utility's rates and Florida sun.
- Choose what's nextAsk for a quote call if you want real pricing, or just keep the number.
See what solar could save you
It takes about a minute. You don't need a site visit, a commitment or a sales call to see your number.
Common questions
What happens to my solar system if the installer goes out of business?
The system stays on your roof and keeps working as long as nothing breaks. What changes is who you call. Manufacturer warranties on the panels and inverters usually still apply, but the installer's workmanship warranty usually ends, and you'll need another licensed installer for service.
Do I still have to pay my solar loan or lease if the company went bankrupt?
Usually, yes. Payments are typically owed to a lender or leasing company, not the installer, and missing them can hurt your credit. When SunPower and Sunnova went through bankruptcy, SunStrong Management took over servicing their existing customers. Call whoever you pay to confirm who holds your agreement now.
Is my solar warranty still valid if the installer closed?
Equipment warranties from the panel and inverter makers usually are, because they're between you and the manufacturer. The installer's own workmanship warranty, which covers installation mistakes and roof leaks at the mounting points, usually isn't, unless a third party backs it.
Who can fix my solar system if the installer is gone?
Another licensed Florida contractor. Many installers take on systems left behind by other companies, usually for a service-call fee. Verify the license at myfloridalicense.com, and have them confirm that your permit was closed and your utility approved the interconnection.
My panels were installed but never turned on. What should I do?
Don't switch the system on yourself. Ask your county building department whether the permit passed final inspection, and ask your utility whether an interconnection application was filed and approved. A new licensed installer can usually finish the paperwork. If loan payments have started, call the lender and explain the situation.
Can I get my deposit back if a solar company goes bankrupt?
Possibly some of it. You can file a proof of claim in the bankruptcy case before the court's deadline, and consumer deposits get priority up to $3,800 per person in cases filed on or after April 1, 2025, though priority doesn't guarantee payment. If you paid by credit card, a billing dispute with your card issuer may be faster.
Can a subcontractor put a lien on my house if I already paid the solar company?
Yes. Florida's construction lien law lets unpaid subcontractors and suppliers file a lien even if you paid the contractor in full, as long as they served you a Notice to Owner within 45 days of starting work and record the lien within 90 days of their last work. If you receive a Notice to Owner or a lien, talk to a construction attorney.
Does the Florida Homeowners' Construction Recovery Fund cover solar companies?
It can. The fund covers contractors licensed by Florida's Construction Industry Licensing Board, which includes certified solar contractors, for residential contracts signed after July 1, 2016. For contracts signed on or after July 1, 2024, it pays up to $30,000 per claim. You generally need a court judgment, arbitration award or board restitution order first, for violations such as abandoning the job.
Related guides
- How to check a solar company, and door-to-door red flags
- Why is my electric bill still high with solar?
- Is a solar lease a good idea in Florida?
- Selling or buying a house with solar in Florida
- Florida net metering explained
This page is general information, not legal advice. For a dispute, a lien or a bankruptcy claim, talk to a Florida attorney. Sources: pv magazine: Freedom Forever converted to Chapter 7 · WKMG, August 2026 · pv magazine: SunStrong takes over Sunnova systems · Florida Statute 489.143 · Florida Statute 489.129 · Florida Statute 713.06 · Florida Statute 713.08 · Bankruptcy dollar amounts, April 2025 · 15 U.S.C. 1666 · 15 U.S.C. 1666i
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