Quick Answer: Sunrun solar contract cancellation is simplest during the three-business-day cooling-off period, when a written notice can cancel the sale without penalty. After installation, the realistic routes are buying the system at a time the agreement allows, transferring the agreement to a home buyer, waiting for the term to end, or disputing how the agreement was sold. The signed contract decides which routes exist.
Can You Cancel a Sunrun Contract?
Yes, but the path depends on how far the project has progressed. Solar contract cancellation works very differently on day two than it does years later. A homeowner who wants to cancel Sunrun contract terms early faces different rules than one who needs a solar contract exit before selling the house.
The table below matches each stage to the route that usually fits it. Outcomes vary by contract, state, and how the sale was handled.
| Stage | Usual exit path | What to check first |
| Within 3 business days of signing | Written notice of cancellation | Signing date, notice form, delivery proof |
| Signed, not yet installed | Ask Sunrun in writing about cancellation or changing plans | Contract cancellation terms, installation date |
| After installation | Purchase, transfer, or end of term | Purchase timing and price in the agreement |
| Selling the home | Service transfer to the buyer | Buyer credit check, escrow timeline |
| Sale was misleading | Document the claims and escalate | Proposal, savings promises, utility bills |
What Type of Sunrun Agreement Do You Have?
Your agreement type determines which exit options exist, so identify it before anything else. Sunrun’s Subscription plan is a third-party-owned system arrangement, which means Sunrun owns the panels and the homeowner pays for the power they produce. You can find the signed agreement in the Sunrun app or at Sunrun.com under Account, then Contracts & Docs.
- Monthly lease: The homeowner pays a fixed monthly amount to use the system, regardless of how much it produces.
- Power purchase agreement (PPA): The homeowner pays a fixed price per kilowatt-hour for the electricity the system generates, so the payment tracks production.
- Prepaid subscription: One upfront payment covers 25 years of solar power, and Sunrun’s own FAQ says it removes the annual escalator.
- Purchase or loan: The homeowner owns the system, so the exit runs through the lender or the sale terms rather than a Sunrun lease.
Sunrun states that once panels are installed, the agreement type is fixed for the term. Switching between lease, PPA, and prepaid structures has to happen before installation, and the one exception after installation is purchasing the equipment at times defined in the agreement.
How Does Solar Contract Cancellation Work During the Cooling-Off Period?
The FTC Cooling-Off Rule gives a buyer until midnight of the third business day after the sale to cancel, when the sale was made at the buyer’s home or another location outside the seller’s permanent place of business.
The rule is codified at 16 CFR Part 429, and this right of rescission applies to sales of $25 or more made in the home. Whether a specific sale qualifies depends on where and how it was signed.
The seller must give the buyer a notice of cancellation form at the time of sale. If the buyer cancels on time, the rule’s form says the seller must return payments and any negotiable instruments within ten business days and cancel any security interest arising from the sale.
Some states add their own windows. California, for example, gives at least three business days, or five days for buyers 65 or older, according to the state’s solar consumer guide.
How to Send the Notice Correctly
Timing errors are the most common way homeowners lose this right, so precision matters. Saturdays count as business days for this rule, while Sundays and federal holidays do not.
- Find the signing date: Count three business days from the day after signing, and treat the third day’s midnight as the hard deadline.
- Use the notice form: Sign and date the form Sunrun provided. If no form was given, write a letter stating that the homeowner cancels the transaction, with the address and contract details.
- Send it with proof: Use certified mail with return receipt, or hand deliver the notice, and make sure it is postmarked or delivered before the deadline.
- Keep everything: Save a copy of the notice, the mailing receipt, and any reply.
- Track the refund: Note the ten-business-day mark, and follow up in writing if a deposit or payment has not been returned.
What Are Your Options After Installation?
After installation, solar contract cancellation as most people picture it is not available, because there is no cancel button. A Sunrun lease or PPA is a long-term agreement, and a homeowner who wants to terminate solar panel agreement obligations usually works through one of the four routes below. Each has conditions, so review the actual contract first.
Buy the System
Sunrun says purchase after installation is only available at the specific times set out in the agreement, because of tax credit implications. The contract states when that window opens and how the price is calculated. A price based on fair market value is not a fixed number, so ask Sunrun for a written figure and compare it with the schedule in the agreement.
Transfer the Agreement to a Home Buyer
A home sale does not automatically end the payment obligation, so the transfer needs to be arranged. According to Sunrun, a homeowner with a monthly lease or PPA submits a request through the Service Transfer Portal, receives a transfer form, and signs it together with the new homeowner.
The buyer then completes a soft credit application, and the transfer completes after escrow closes.
Start the request as soon as the home is under contract. If the buyer does not want the agreement or does not qualify, the seller may need to explore a purchase before closing, which is why the conversation with the buyer and the real estate agent should happen early.
Wait for the End of the Term
At the end of a Sunrun lease agreement, Sunrun lists three options: buy the system at fair market value, renew the lease annually, or have Sunrun remove the system. Sunrun says there is no automatic default and no penalty for choosing any of them. This route suits homeowners who plan to get out of solar contract obligations at the natural end date and can absorb the remaining monthly payments.
Dispute How the Agreement Was Sold
Some homeowners want to get rid of solar contract payments because the results do not match what the salesperson said. The Treasury’s solar lease advisory lists exit fees, early termination fees, and what happens if the company is sold among the questions homeowners should ask.
If the written proposal, savings projection, or salesperson’s statements conflict with the signed agreement, that record may matter.
Underproduction is a separate issue. Sunrun states that eligible Monthly Lease and PPA agreements carry a production guarantee of at least 90% of estimated production over the system’s lifetime, checked every 24 months, and it is not available in Florida. Read those terms before assuming the only answer is a full exit.
What Should You Gather Before You Contact Sunrun?
Gather documents first, because any attempt to exit solar contract terms depends on what the paperwork actually says.
- The signed agreement and any notice of cancellation, downloaded from Contracts & Docs
- The original proposal, including savings estimates and any escalator schedule
- The Permission to Operate date, which marks when the system was approved to run
- Twelve months of utility bills and the production data in the Sunrun app
- Emails, texts, and call notes with dates and the names of representatives
Then put questions to Sunrun in writing, using its customer line at 1-855-478-6786 to open the request and email or mail to confirm it. Ask what the purchase window is, how the price is calculated, what a transfer requires from the buyer, and whether any fees apply at your stage. A verbal answer is helpful, but a written answer is what you can rely on later.
Which Mistakes Make Solar Contract Cancellation Harder?
Most avoidable problems come from timing and assumptions.
- Missing the deadline: The cooling-off window closes at midnight of the third business day, and a late notice may not count.
- Relying on a phone call: A call is not proof of notice, so follow every call with a written message.
- Assuming a sale ends the contract: Selling the home typically does not remove the obligation unless the agreement is transferred or paid off.
- Stopping payments: Sunrun’s billing terms include late fees, and a missed bill can lead to default remedies under the agreement.
- Accepting a verbal quote: A purchase or payoff figure that is not in writing is hard to challenge later.
Getting Your Sunrun Agreement Reviewed
Solar contract cancellation is rarely one decision. It is a sequence: identify the agreement, check the timing, compare the routes, and confirm each figure in writing. At HowtoCancelSolar, our team reviews solar contracts so homeowners can understand what their agreement says, and we walk through the realistic options with you. Our work is backed by 30+ Solar Companies Covered and 4 Solar Contract Types Explained, so the review starts with how your specific agreement type usually works.
We do not promise that any homeowner can cancel or exit a solar agreement, because the answer depends on the contract, the stage, and the facts. What we can do is help you read the terms and spot the deadlines. Start with the HowtoCancelSolar contract review, and bring your signed agreement and proposal. This guide is educational and is not legal advice.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do I have to cancel a Sunrun contract?
For a sale covered by the FTC Cooling-Off Rule, you have until midnight of the third business day after signing. Some states add protection, and California gives at least three business days, or five if the buyer is 65 or older. Check the notice of cancellation in your contract for the exact deadline that applies.
Can I cancel a Sunrun contract after installation?
There is no simple cancel option after installation. The usual routes are purchasing the system at a time the agreement allows, transferring the agreement to a home buyer, or waiting for the term to end. A dispute about how the agreement was sold is a separate path that depends on the facts and the documents.
Can I get out of a Sunrun contract if I sell my house?
A home sale does not automatically end the agreement, but a service transfer to the buyer is a common route. The buyer signs the transfer form, completes a soft credit application, and the transfer completes after escrow closes. If the buyer declines or does not qualify, a purchase of the system may be needed before closing.
Does Sunrun charge a fee to cancel?
Cancelling within the cooling-off period should not carry a penalty when the rule covers the sale. After installation, costs depend on the route, such as a purchase price under the agreement. Ask Sunrun for any figure in writing, and compare it with the contract language.
Where can I file a complaint about a Sunrun agreement?
Start with a written complaint to Sunrun so there is a record. If the problem is not resolved, homeowners commonly contact the CFPB, the FTC, their state attorney general, or their state contractor licensing board. Keep the agreement, proposal, and correspondence ready when you file.
