A Queensland family spent more than two years living with a leaking roof after a solar panel installation damaged their home.
The solar company, its subcontractor and their insurer all refused to fix the cause.
This is what happened, what Ezylegal did about it, and what every homeowner with solar should know.
Water every time it rained
The family had solar panels installed on their home in south-east Queensland in 2022. Within months, every time it rained, water came into the house.
On Christmas Eve 2023, a severe storm hit south-east Queensland. Water flooded through the upstairs bedroom ceiling, staining the walls and soaking the carpet. The children first thought someone had spilled water. When the lights went on, they could see water marks running down the walls.
What the inspection found
A building inspection confirmed what the family suspected. The damage was caused by foot traffic during the solar installation:
- around 12 metres of roof tiles had been cracked
- timber battens under the tiles had been broken
- the silicone sealing the solar contractor put around roof penetrations had deteriorated
“Every time it had rained, water would enter,” the building inspector’s report noted.
The storm didn’t cause the damage. It had been happening since the panels went in.
Passed from pillar to post
The insurer. The family lodged a home insurance claim in early 2024. The insurer accepted the claim for the internal damage - ceilings, walls and carpet - and offered a cash settlement for it. But it refused to cover the actual cause: removing the panels, repairing the roof and putting the panels back. That, it said, wasn’t its responsibility.
The solar company. The family was told their roof was in “terrible condition due to age”. No pre-installation inspection had ever been done, and no concerns about the roof were raised before or during the installation.
The subcontractor. The installer who actually did the work denied responsibility. It claimed the broken battens were caused by the age of the timber, not foot traffic.
Fair Trading. In mid-2024, the family lodged a formal complaint with the Queensland Office of Fair Trading. More than a year later, it was still unresolved. The solar company promised to send a specialist to inspect the damage. Despite repeated assurances and follow-up emails, no one ever came.
A second severe storm in early 2025 caused more damage, this time to the children’s bedroom, the lounge room and the kitchen. The family lodged a second insurance claim.
The whole time, the house kept leaking every time it rained.
Taking it to court
In 2025, the family came to Ezylegal. We filed proceedings in the Magistrates Court of Queensland against both the solar company and its subcontractor.
The claim alleged breach of contract, negligence, and breaches of the Australian Consumer Law’s consumer guarantees. The subcontractor’s insurer appointed a national law firm to defend the proceedings.
The matter was resolved at mediation in August 2026.
”Nobody would take responsibility”
The Ezylegal team said the case was one of the most frustrating they had seen.
“This family did everything right. They invested in solar panels to reduce their energy costs and do the right thing by the environment. In return, they got a damaged roof, a home that leaked every time it rained, and two years of being passed from pillar to post,” the Ezylegal team said.
“The solar company blamed the roof. The subcontractor blamed the timber. The insurer covered the water damage but would not fix the cause. Nobody would take responsibility.”
A growing problem in a booming industry
More than three million Australian homes now have rooftop solar, and installations continue at a rapid pace. But the quality of installation work varies widely. When something goes wrong, homeowners often get stuck between the retailer who sold the system, the subcontractor who installed it, and the insurer who covers the house.
“The solar industry has grown so quickly that quality control has not kept pace,” the Ezylegal team said. “We are seeing cases where installers damage roofs, where no pre-installation inspection is done, and where companies use subcontractors and then disclaim any responsibility when the subcontractor’s work causes damage.”
What the law says
Under the Australian Consumer Law, any service you pay for must be carried out with due care and skill. That includes the company that sold you the system, even if it sent a subcontractor to do the work.
“If a tradesperson damages your home, you have a right to have that damage repaired. If a company sells you a service and that service is not carried out with due care and skill, they have breached the consumer guarantee under the Australian Consumer Law,” the Ezylegal team said.
“But enforcing those rights costs money. Filing in the Magistrates Court, engaging lawyers, dealing with insurers and their legal teams - that is not something most families can take on out of pocket. That is exactly why no-win, no-fee exists.”
Getting solar installed? Protect yourself
1. Ask for a roof inspection before installation. Get the installer to note the condition of your roof in writing, with photos, before anyone goes up there.
2. Find out who is actually doing the work. If it’s a subcontractor, confirm in writing that the company you’re paying stays responsible for their work.
3. Check the roof straight after installation. Look in the roof space for daylight, cracked tiles or water marks, and take photos.
4. Act on the first leak. Report it to the installer in writing straight away and keep every email, invoice and photo.
5. Don’t take “it’s the age of your roof” as the final word. If the roof was fine before the installation, get an independent building inspection.
Let down by everyone you’ve asked for help?
“They had been to the solar company. They had been to the Office of Fair Trading. They had been to their insurer. Nobody fixed the problem. Two years of water coming through your ceiling every time it rains, with children in the house - that is not acceptable,” the Ezylegal team said.
“We took the case because we believe everyone deserves access to justice. If a company damages your home and refuses to take responsibility, you should not have to live with the consequences simply because you cannot afford a lawyer.”
Ezylegal works on a no-win, no-fee basis across consumer, commercial and insurance disputes throughout Australia.