Central Florida homeowners face solar liens after installer bankruptcies

Juan Burgos Law says it is helping Central Florida homeowners clear solar-related liens that can block home sales and refinancing after a wave of installer bankruptcies. The issue affects financed rooftop systems and can linger even when the original installer is gone.

Why it matters: - Solar-related liens can keep Central Florida homeowners from selling or refinancing their homes. - The problem has become more common as major residential solar installers and lenders have gone bankrupt. - Homeowners can be left with non-functional systems, no manufacturer support and a lien on title.

What happened: - Juan Burgos Law said it is now representing Central Florida homeowners seeking to remove solar panel liens tied to bankrupt installers and lenders. - Freedom Forever filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in Delaware on April 15, 2026, in Case No. 26-10522. - The filing listed estimated liabilities of $500 million to $1 billion. - Local news coverage has identified at least eight major solar companies that have filed for bankruptcy in the past two years. - Juan Burgos Law said many affected homeowners financed rooftop systems through lenders such as GoodLeap, Mosaic or Sunlight Financial.

The details: - A UCC-1 fixture filing can remain recorded against a home even after the installer goes out of business. - That filing can complicate a sale or refinance. - The firm said some homeowners must deal with the lien through a valuation and redemption process in bankruptcy court or through other legal channels. - Under 11 U.S.C. § 722, Chapter 7 debtors can redeem financed personal property, including solar panels, by paying fair market value rather than the full loan balance. - Under 11 U.S.C. § 506(a), Chapter 13 debtors can pursue a similar result by bifurcating the lender's claim. - Solar systems structured as leases or power purchase agreements follow a different bankruptcy process because they are treated as executory contracts. - Homeowners facing a Property Assessed Clean Energy tax assessment, such as one from Ygrene, may have separate rights and obligations depending on how the assessment is structured. - Juan C. Burgos said many homeowners do not realize the lien remains until they try to sell or refinance. - Burgos said the right approach depends on the loan structure, whether the installer is still operating and the homeowner's stage in the process. - Juan Burgos Law provides bankruptcy representation in English, Spanish and Portuguese. - The firm said it built a dedicated resource that includes a free online estimator to help homeowners assess their situation before filing. - The firm represents individuals in Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 cases, including solar panel lien matters, before the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Middle District of Florida. - More information is available at the firm's solar lien resource, with Spanish- and Portuguese-language versions at the Spanish resource and the Portuguese resource. - Consultations can be scheduled online or by calling (407) 505-4190.

Between the lines: - The bankruptcy wave has turned solar financing from a home-improvement pitch into a title and debt problem for some homeowners. - The legal fix depends less on the panels themselves than on how the deal was structured at origination. - For homeowners, the risk is not only unpaid debt but also delays in closing a home sale or refinance.

What's next: - Affected homeowners will likely need case-specific legal review to determine whether redemption, claim bifurcation, contract rejection or another path applies. - Juan Burgos Law is steering homeowners to its online estimator and consultations before they file anything. - The firm said nearly all Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 hearings in its practice are conducted remotely by video.

The bottom line: - Solar installer bankruptcies are leaving some Central Florida homeowners with lingering liens that can block basic real-estate transactions, and removing them may require a bankruptcy or title-specific legal strategy.