Solar for Rentals (Victoria)
Solar Victoria pays Victorian landlords a $1,400 rebate plus an optional $1,400 interest-free loan to install solar on a tenanted rental property. Stacks with the federal STC rebate. Tenants get lower power bills, you get the asset and (from 1 March 2027) move ahead of the new Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards for rentals.
What landlords get
Two stackable supports per property, on top of the federal STC rebate.
50% of the system price up to $1,400, applied as a point-of-sale discount on your invoice. No income test on the landlord.
Repaid at $29.16 per month over four years. Can be split 50/50 with the tenant by mutual agreement.
Eligibility
Landlord
- check_circleVictorian rental property owner
- check_circleNo income test on the landlord (unlike the owner-occupier Solar Homes rebate)
- check_circleMaximum of 2 rebates per landlord per financial year
- check_circleStagger more than 2 properties across financial years
Property
- check_circleLocated in Victoria, valued under $3 million
- check_circleCurrently tenanted with a rental agreement in place
- check_circleHas not previously received a solar PV or battery rebate under Solar Homes Program
Tenant
- check_circleCombined household taxable income under $210,000 per year
- check_circleSigned Solar Homes Program Agreement with the landlord
- check_circleAllows access for quotes, install, inspection and maintenance
- check_circleTenant must be on site at the start of the install
How to apply
The application runs through the Solar Victoria portal. Tenant agreement and DNSP pre-approval have to be in place before you upload.
Talk to your tenant
The Solar Homes Program Agreement has to be signed by both parties before you can apply. Walk the tenant through the rebate, the install access, and any loan repayment split if you want one.
Get a quote from a Solar Victoria authorised retailer
You must use an authorised retailer and products on the official approved list. Quotes from non-approved retailers are not eligible.
Get DNSP pre-approval
Your retailer or you submit the system to your local Distributed Network Service Provider for grid pre-approval before the quote is uploaded to Solar Victoria.
Apply on the Solar Victoria portal
Upload the signed Solar Homes Program Agreement, the tenancy agreement, the retailer quote, and DNSP pre-approval. If you want the interest-free loan, expect a credit check.
Receive your QR code, then install within 120 days
Solar Victoria issues a QR code when the application is approved. Your authorised retailer must complete the install within 120 days, or 270 days if the property is under construction.
Pay the balance after the rebate is deducted
The $1,400 rebate is deducted from your invoice at point of sale. Pay the balance directly to the retailer. If you took the interest-free loan, repayments start through the agreed channel.
What it costs after the rebate and loan
A worked example for a typical Melbourne rental, 6.6 kW system, full rebate plus the interest-free loan.
Plus $29.16 a month over 4 years for the interest-free loan, optionally split 50/50 with the tenant by mutual agreement.
On top of this, the system is depreciable against your rental income, the property typically rents faster, and your tenant's power bill drops materially. Add a battery and the federal Cheaper Home Batteries Program contributes around $252 per kWh post 1 May 2026.
What your tenant needs to know
Tenant cooperation is mandatory. Before you can apply, the tenant signs the Solar Homes Program Agreement, which records who consents to the install and (optionally) any loan repayment split. The tenant household must also have a combined taxable income under $210,000 per year for the property to qualify.
On install day the tenant has to be present at the start. Standard practice is one day on site. Notify them in writing under the Residential Tenancies Act 1997 and your existing rental agreement. The electricity account stays in the tenant's name, so any feed-in tariff credits flow to the tenant.
Most Victorian renters welcome the conversation because the bill impact is significant and they pay nothing upfront. If you want to share the interest-free loan repayments, the agreement caps the tenant contribution at $14.58 per month (around $231 per year).
Stacks with these other programs
Federal STC rebate
Worth around $1,500 to $1,700 on a 6.6 kW system in Melbourne (Zone 4). Applied automatically as a point-of-sale discount.
Cheaper Home Batteries Program
Federal battery rebate at approximately $252 per usable kWh post 1 May 2026. Around $2,520 off a 10 kWh battery.
All Victorian rebates
Full breakdown of every rebate available to Victorian residents in 2026, including the owner-occupier Solar Homes rebate.
Frequently asked questions
helpWhat is the Victorian Solar for Rentals program?
It is a Solar Homes Program rebate run by Solar Victoria for landlords who install solar PV on a rental property. The program pays a $1,400 rebate, with an optional interest-free loan of up to $1,400 on top, for a maximum of $2,800 in upfront support per property. It stacks with the federal STC rebate, which is worth around $1,500 to $1,700 on a 6.6 kW system in Melbourne.
helpHow much is the rebate exactly?
The rebate is up to $1,400 or 50% of the system price (whichever is lower). Most eligible landlords claim the full $1,400. On top of that, you can take an interest-free loan of up to $1,400, repaid over four years.
helpWho can apply, the landlord or the tenant?
The landlord (rental provider) applies. The tenant has to sign the Solar Homes Program Agreement and consent to the install, but the rebate goes to the landlord. The tenant benefits through lower power bills.
helpIs there an income test?
Yes, but the income test is on the tenant household, not the landlord. The renting household must have a combined taxable income of less than $210,000 per year. The landlord does not need to meet an income test for this program (unlike the standard Solar Homes rebate for owner-occupiers).
helpHow many rental properties can I claim for?
A landlord can claim up to two rebates per financial year under this program. If you own more than two rentals, stagger the applications across financial years.
helpWhat property is eligible?
The property must be a Victorian rental, valued under $3 million, and not have previously received a solar PV or battery rebate under the Solar Homes Program. The property must be currently tenanted with a rental agreement in place.
helpDo I need to use a specific retailer?
Yes. The install must be done by a Solar Victoria authorised retailer using products on the official Solar Victoria approved product list. Quotes from non-approved retailers are not eligible.
helpWhat is the install timeframe?
Once your application is approved, you have 120 days to complete the installation, or 270 days if the property is under construction. Solar Victoria issues a QR code confirmation when the application is accepted.
helpCan the tenant share the loan repayments?
Yes. By default the landlord repays the interest-free loan at $29.16 per month over four years. You can negotiate a 50/50 split with the tenant, where each side pays $14.58 per month (capped at $231.25 per year). This split has to be agreed in writing in the Solar Homes Program Agreement.
helpDoes this stack with the federal STC rebate?
Yes. The Solar Victoria $1,400 rebate is on top of the federal Small-scale Technology Certificate (STC) rebate, which is worth approximately $1,500 to $1,700 on a 6.6 kW system in Melbourne. It also stacks with the federal Cheaper Home Batteries Program if you add a battery.
helpIs the program still active?
Yes, the program is currently active as of 2026. Note that Victoria is also rolling out new Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards for rentals from 1 March 2027, which is an additional reason to upgrade rentals now.
Official sources
- Solar Victoria, Solar for rental properties
- Solar Victoria, Solar PV rebate
- Consumer Affairs Victoria, Renting in Victoria
Phone enquiries: 1300 376 393 (Mon-Fri, 9am-5pm). Information current at time of publishing. Always confirm program details directly with Solar Victoria before submitting an application.
Apply Solar for Rentals to your Victorian property
We will match you with a Solar Victoria authorised retailer and walk you through the application end-to-end.