If they were under some kind of borderline-scam scheme like that, yes that would make sense. But that’s very different than just “having solar panels” that the OP said!
Op just said "but it had solar panels" - which.....it does. And because it's such a common setup in the UK, every time you see a house with solar panels you can be almost certain it's done this way, not owned outright by the owner.
