The two models, in plain terms
Owning your system means you (or your bank, if you finance it) hold title to the equipment from day one. You pay it off, in cash or over a finance term, and once it's paid off it's a fully owned asset on your roof with no ongoing payment.
Rent-to-own and PPA (power purchase agreement) models work differently: a third party owns the equipment on your roof, and you either pay rent for access to it or pay per unit of electricity it generates, sometimes with an option to eventually own it outright after a set period.
What homeowners actually run into
The details that catch people out are rarely in the headline pitch. Worth checking on any rent-to-own or PPA agreement: what happens if you sell your home before the term ends, whether the "ownership option" at the end has a real buyout price attached to it, who's responsible for maintenance and warranty claims during the rental period, and whether the monthly rental escalates over time the way a grid tariff does.
Questions worth asking, regardless of who you sign with
- Who owns the equipment on my roof, and when (if ever) does that change?
- Is there a buyout clause, and what does it actually cost in rand terms?
- What happens to the agreement if I sell my house?
- Who handles compliance, CoC and SSEG registration, and is it actually included?
- Does my monthly payment ever increase, and under what conditions?
- What warranty do I have on the equipment, and who honours it?
Where DigiGo sits on this
DigiGo doesn't offer rent-to-own or PPA agreements. Every system we install is either paid for in cash or financed through a standard bank loan via FNB or WesBank. In both cases, you own the equipment on your roof from the start (or as soon as the finance is settled), not a third party. We think that's the simpler, more transparent model for most homeowners: no ownership ambiguity, no buyout clause to negotiate later, just a system that's yours. See Solar Finance for how our finance option works.
Frequently asked questions
Is rent-to-own solar a bad idea?
Not necessarily, but it needs closer reading than a standard purchase or bank loan. The equipment ownership, escalation terms and what happens if you move house are the details that matter most.
Is bank finance the same as rent-to-own?
No. With bank finance, you (or your bank as security) own the equipment from the start and are simply repaying a loan, the same as a car or home loan. With rent-to-own or a PPA, a third party owns the equipment for the length of the agreement.
Does DigiGo offer rent-to-own?
No. DigiGo installs systems that are either paid for in cash or financed via a standard FNB or WesBank loan, so you own the equipment outright rather than renting it from a third party.
Want to see real ownership pricing for your home?
Get My Free Solar Quote