Solar for Rental Properties
If you own a rental property, you can install solar with the same federal STC rebates as an owner-occupier, plus state-specific grants of up to $3,500 in Queensland and $1,400 in Victoria designed for landlords. Your tenants get lower bills, you get the asset.
State Programs for Landlords
Two states currently run dedicated rebates for solar on rental properties. The federal STC rebate stacks on top in both cases.
Supercharged Solar for Renters
paymentsWhat you get
- checkGrant of $2,500 (3 to 4 kW), $3,000 (4 to 5 kW) or $3,500 (5 kW or larger)
- checkStacks with federal STC rebate worth $2,400 to $2,800
- checkApply for up to three rental properties
- check$26.3 million budget supporting around 6,500 households
verifiedEligibility
- arrow_rightProperty in Queensland, individually metered, no existing solar
- arrow_rightClass 1a building (house, duplex, townhouse) or granny flat
- arrow_rightCurrently rented at $1,000 per week or less
- arrow_rightFixed-term lease with at least 8 months remaining
- arrow_rightTenant consent and (where relevant) body corporate consent required
Solar for Rentals
paymentsWhat you get
- check$1,400 rebate for landlords installing solar on a rental
- checkOptional interest-free loan up to $1,400 (4-year repayment)
- checkStacks with federal STC rebate (~$1,500-$1,700 in Melbourne)
- checkUp to 2 rebates per landlord per financial year
verifiedEligibility
- arrow_rightProperty in Victoria, valued under $3 million
- arrow_rightTenant household income under $210,000 (income test sits with the renter, not the landlord)
- arrow_rightSolar Victoria authorised retailer and approved products
- arrow_rightProperty has not previously received a Solar Homes rebate
- arrow_rightTenant signs the Solar Homes Program Agreement
Other states (NSW, SA, WA, TAS, ACT, NT) do not currently run a dedicated landlord-specific rebate, but the federal STC rebate worth $2,400 to $2,800 on a 6.6kW system, and the federal Cheaper Home Batteries Program at ~$252 per kWh post 1 May 2026, are still available for any property including rentals. See your state rebate page.
Why landlords are installing solar in 2026
A solar system on a rental property used to be a hard sell because the landlord paid and the tenant got the savings. The new state grants flip that maths. With $3,500 from QLD plus the federal STC rebate, the typical out-of-pocket cost on a 6.6kW system drops to around $1,000 to $2,000, and the system materially lifts what the property is worth.
Confirm your property is eligible
Check the program rules for your state. QLD requires the property to be tenanted at $1,000/week or less, with no existing solar and a fixed-term lease. Other states have their own thresholds.
Have the conversation with your tenant
Most programs require written tenant consent before approval. Frame it around what they get out of it: lower power bills (around $700 a year for QLD tenants) and a more comfortable home.
Get quotes from approved sellers
For QLD Supercharged Solar for Renters you must use a New Energy Tech Approved Seller with SAA-accredited designers. For VIC, use a Solar Victoria approved retailer. We can match you with one in your area.
Submit your application
For QLD apply through QRIDA after you have a quote. For VIC apply through Solar Victoria. The grant is paid to the installer at the point of sale, so you only fund the gap.
Coordinate the install with your tenant
Standard rooftop installs take one day on site. Notify your tenant in writing and provide reasonable access in line with your state's tenancy laws.
Claim your tax deductions
Solar on a rental is a depreciable capital asset. Have your accountant include it in the property's depreciation schedule.
What landlords get out of it
Worked example: 6.6kW on a Brisbane rental
On top of this, the system is depreciable against your rental income, the property typically rents faster, and your tenant saves around $700 a year on power. North Queensland properties in STC Zones 1-2 see slightly higher federal rebates. See full QLD program details.
Are you a tenant, not a landlord?
You cannot install rooftop solar yourself, but you can hand your landlord this page. The QLD grant in particular is structured so that the landlord pays very little and you pocket roughly $700 a year on lower bills, which makes the conversation a lot easier.
In the meantime, smaller portable options can still cut some of your power bill without needing landlord approval. A 600W to 800W balcony solar kit sits on a railing and offsets devices you run during the day. Portable solar panels paired with a battery generator (1 to 2 kWh) work for apartments and shared houses where a balcony install is not practical.
The federal Solar Sharer program launching mid-2026 will let renters access cheap solar electricity through their retailer without anything on the roof. Expect savings of around $300 to $600 a year once it goes live.
Frequently asked questions
helpCan I install solar on my rental property as a landlord?
Yes. Most state and federal solar incentives are open to landlords as well as owner-occupiers. Queensland's Supercharged Solar for Renters pays up to $3,500 specifically to landlords who install solar on a tenanted property, and Victoria's Solar for Rentals offers up to $1,400. Federal STC rebates worth $2,400 to $2,800 on a 6.6kW system stack on top.
helpDo I need my tenant's permission to install solar?
For the QLD Supercharged Solar for Renters program, written tenant consent is mandatory. For most other rebates and a standard install, tenant consent is not legally required, but you should still notify them in writing under your state's rental tenancy laws because installation involves access to the property.
helpHow much does solar add to a rental property's value?
Industry research from Domain and CoreLogic suggests rooftop solar adds approximately $15,000 to $25,000 to a typical Australian house, depending on system size and location. Properties with solar also rent faster and tend to attract longer-term tenants because of the lower power bills.
helpWho keeps the feed-in tariff payment, the landlord or the tenant?
The feed-in tariff is paid against the electricity account, which is almost always in the tenant's name. So in practice the tenant receives any export credits. Some landlords negotiate a small rent adjustment to share the benefit, but most leave it with the tenant as part of the rental property's appeal.
helpCan I claim solar on my rental property at tax time?
Yes. Solar installed on an income-producing rental property is generally a depreciable capital asset. Most landlords claim it as a capital works deduction (Division 43) over 25 to 40 years, or as plant and equipment depreciation depending on how the system is classified. Speak to your accountant about your specific structure.
helpWhat if my rental property is in a different state to where I live?
That is fine. Eligibility is based on where the rental property is located, not where you live. A landlord living in Sydney with a rental in Brisbane can still apply for the QLD Supercharged Solar for Renters program, for example.
helpCan renters install their own solar without involving the landlord?
Not for rooftop solar. Permanent installation requires the property owner's consent. Renters can use portable solar panels, balcony solar kits or solar generators without permission, but these only offset a small portion of household electricity use. The bigger savings come from working with the landlord to install a proper rooftop system.
Ready to put solar on your rental?
We will match you with a New Energy Tech Approved Seller in your state and walk you through the grant application end-to-end.