This does not sound like a normal install. can you send us some photos?
There shouldn't be any flashing around the PV modules. it is flashed at the mounts below the rails.
And flashing does not wear out quickly (thats kind of the point of flashing).

The two hot water solar panels I installed were above the waterproofing layer and there was flashing around the mounts. It sounds like your system was done differently. As Butch suggests, pictures would be helpful.

It's pouring with rain at moment I will try and get some photos tomorrow

If it's indeed a solar thermal hot water system, and put in as part of the original construction, it may well be what is sometimes called a "building integrated solar thermal system" or similar names. Some PV systems are/were also done that way. Some solar thermal systems that have the glazing flush with the roof surface might be called a "BIST" system. hose types of systems are not done as much now for reasons similar to what you are experiencing.

If it was me, I'd take it out. Such systems are built in sumps or at least low spots that can't be easily inspected.

You sure it's the roof leaking and not water coming out of the panel itself?

I hope these pictures upload ok. I apologise in advance that they are not great. First is a picture of the solar panel on roof. It is slightly raised so not completely sunk in to roof. The second and third photo I took in loft . This is the wood solar panel seems to be mounted to. The white is actually mould.

The last picture is where it is actually leaking most, just below the wood that solar panel is mounted too. You can see I have had to lay out plastic trays to try and catch some of the water, emptying them regularly throughout day. Trays are notnlying on plaster board ceiling the is would underneath. Its not stopping all water but it's helping. I have buckets in front bedrooms too.

It only leaks when rains. So don't think pipes in solar panel are leaking. Previously when they sent some one to fix back in January they told me flashing had gone around solar panel and that's causing leak. A inspector sent by building company came a few weeks ago said same thing.

I'm not a expert in roofing or solar panel systems, I don't know anything and don't know where it's actually leaking and if they are telling the truth that's why I'm asking advice.

I can only tell you where I'm seeing water come through.

Do these pictures help what to you think.

I can try and take more pictures if helps

You most likely have a roof leak, perhaps at the solar collector attachment points or plumbing penetrations. Perhaps in the plumbing that's inside the home. Fixing it will probably involve removing the solar collector if only to identify/locate the leak(s).

Thanks J.B.M. do you think I should get a expert in my self before they come to try and assess damage and find out exactly where leak it is.

I really don't trust the company that built this house there builder are cowboys. This house was built very badly. I don't trust them to fix problem properly like last time. Im afraid they will just turn up and try and put sealent around again and say it's fixed.

We have had non stop problems with this house since we moved in. I will give you some examples. When we moved in on the first evening I gave my children a bath when I pulled plug out after, bathroom light went off. I bought this was strange. I ran down stairs to check fuse box, and heard water gushing. I got to bottom of stairs looked towards kitchen and saw water pouring through ceiling. Kitchen was flooded. I ran back up stairs and put plug back in bath. I removed bath panel thinking they had not connected pipe properl for rain but it was connected fine.

I turned off water just incase and had to turn off electricity. We had to go and stay else where. Company sent someone the next day who tried to claim the pipe was blocked, how when we had only just moved in.

They sent a drain specialist who put rods down but said It felt strange. He said there could be a blockage so he used a special hose to bast pipe. This caused raw sewage to pour through ceiling in to kitchen and all over boiler. I had to tell at him to stop. The smell was horrible, I can't begin to describe it. He put a camera down then looked at me and said it looks like your house has not been connected to main drainage.

I contacted building company fuming. But they did not want to believe us. They eventually sent builder out who dug up our front garden and there was the pipe coming out of our house with a cap on, it had not been connected to main drainage.
They connected us up to the main drainage which they should had done in first place when built house. But would not fix all damage that was caused. Boiler in our opinion was recked and had been soaked in raw sewage. They would not replace boiler only replaced a board in it to get it working

We had to clean up all the mess and pay for all damage to be fixed. We and our children had to sleep on floor at a friend's house for several weeks until we could move back in when we should have been enjoying our new home.

Locks on front and back door were broken when moved in. Windows went bang and shattered when no one nearby and nothing hit it, one day when my children were bathing tiles fell off wall and hit them. I'm not talking about 1 or 2 tiles I'm taling about a whole section of wall of tiles. There are electrical problems, Walls are so soft you can't hang any thing notneven a picture as wall crumbles, radiator s are falling off walls as wall is crumbling where they were fixed to wall. I could go on. This house is a house of horrors.

​​​​​​​We hate this house and wish we could move but can't as no one would buy house. We fill trapped we have tried to get a refund from company who built house but so far have been un successfully.

Sorry for the slightly off topic rant. But hope it helps you understand why we don't trust them
any advice much appreciated

If it is still under warranty the building company will have to fix it. That is you best option since in that situation you probably will have little control over their method and means to do that repair.
Having installed two solar hot water systems in the past 30 years, I am of the impression that long term there are more cost effective ways to make water hot.

You're welcome.

Well, like many things, that depends. First of all, expect any charges from an outside vendor to be on your nickel.

As Ampster writes, and while I'd be surprised if some form of warranty still exists after 8 years, if still under warranty of some sort - which I'd check out ASAP, it may benefit you to pursue a solution with the builder first. They may well be scumbags, but not allowing them the first (documented) sniff at a solution that might void any warranties such as they may exist.

Also, not giving the builder a documented chance to make good might well make any small claims or other legal remedies more difficult/less successful to pursue.

Still, independent and documented investigation (but not necessarily immediate repair/remediation - unless an emergency) of the situation by a qualified/licensed professional without/before giving the builder a shot might be informative and also possibly useful if it comes to some litigation.

After 8 years, it seems likely that something on the roof or with the collector system will have come loose/leaked. Solar thermal water heaters can be quite robust but they do need some inspection and maintenance. Not a knock, and NOMB or concern, but if you are like most users, such inspection/maint. probably didn't happen. An independent inspection would also help identify such needs.

I would persue this as a roof or house guaranty. Your state or jurisdiction my have some statutes regarding developer/builder liability.

Hi Not sure if anyone has had experience when solar panels have been fitted and then experience a roof leak ? Had mine fitted this summer and with the heavy rainfall recently I now have a leak coming through one of my bedrooms near where the panels are fitted, which previously never had any issues with rain, assume it's related to maybe a broken tile or something similar during installation ? Anyway have called back the installer who will have a look.

Go here, this guy had exactly the same problem a year ago: