For a long time, apartment living has come with a pretty big catch when it comes to solar.
You might have the perfect sunny roof sitting above you, but unlike a standalone home, deciding to put solar on it isn’t quite as simple as calling an installer and getting a quote.
Shared roofs, Owners Corporations, multiple meters and the question of who gets what have traditionally made apartment solar more complicated.
That is starting to change.
Victoria’s Solar for Apartments program has been expanded, opening the door for more apartment buildings, units and strata townhouses to access rooftop solar.
And if you live in an apartment in Victoria, it’s probably worth knowing what has changed.
What is Victoria’s Solar for Apartments program?
The Solar for Apartments program is a joint Victorian and Australian Government initiative designed to make rooftop solar more accessible for people living in eligible multi-dwelling properties.
Eligible properties can currently access rebates of up to $2,800 per apartment, with a maximum of $140,000 available per property.
The program covers eligible apartment buildings, strata townhouses and units that are under the control of an Owners Corporation and share a common-property rooftop. Funding is currently available until 30 June 2027 or until all rebates are exhausted, whichever comes first.
The program is jointly funded by the Victorian and Australian governments.
What changed in September 2026?
This is the part worth paying attention to. Solar Victoria announced changes designed to make the program accessible to more Victorian apartment residents.
The property value cap has been removed
Previously, property value could affect eligibility. Solar Victoria now states that the property value cap has been removed.
Some larger buildings can now seek an exemption
This needs a little more nuance than simply saying all larger apartment buildings are now eligible.
The standard building eligibility includes buildings no more than eight storeys tall. However, Solar Victoria’s current eligibility rules allow buildings that do not meet the eight-storey requirement, or buildings with between 50 and 150 lots, to apply for an exemption if they meet the other criteria.
If your building looked into the program previously and was told it didn’t qualify, it may be worth checking again.
How much is the Victorian apartment solar rebate?
The current rebate is up to $2,800 per eligible apartment, capped at $140,000 per eligible property.
The rebate is applied by the chosen Solar Victoria authorised retailer as a discount on the invoice, reducing the upfront cost of the installation.
Solar Victoria says an average household in a participating multi-unit development can save up to $500 a year on energy bills. Actual savings will vary depending on the building, system design and how residents use electricity.
Who can actually qualify?
The rebate isn’t available to every apartment building automatically. Current Solar Victoria criteria include a number of building-level requirements.
- The property must be in Victoria and be a completed development.
- It must be an eligible residential building type and be under the control of an Owners Corporation.
- Participating properties must share a common-property rooftop.
- The building generally must be no more than eight storeys, although certain larger buildings can apply for an exemption.
- The building must not be connected to an embedded network for its electricity supply.
- There are also restrictions relating to recent solar installations and certain property types.
For the complete criteria, check Solar Victoria’s current Solar for Apartments eligibility information before making decisions or publishing specific eligibility claims.
How does solar actually work in an apartment building?
This is usually the first question we get.
There isn’t one universal setup.
Under the program, eligible setups can include direct-connected systems or solar-sharing systems. Direct-connected systems can connect individual solar systems to individual lots, while solar-sharing technology can distribute energy from a shared array across participating households.
Which approach makes sense depends on things like available roof space, metering, the building layout and the needs of participating residents.
This is why apartment solar needs to be designed around the building.
It’s not simply a residential solar installation multiplied by the number of apartments.
Do you need Owners Corporation approval for solar?
For this program, the Owners Corporation is central to the process.
An Owners Corporation manages common property, and the program application and quote need to be approved through the Owners Corporation process.
Solar Victoria provides an Owners Corporation approval process as part of the application, including an approval form after the final quote is submitted.
If you’re an apartment owner interested in solar, a practical first step is to raise it with your Owners Corporation or strata manager and find out whether other residents are interested too.
Can renters benefit from apartment solar?
Yes. The program is not limited to buildings occupied only by owner-occupiers.
In April 2026, Solar Victoria reported that more than 2,650 apartment households had been covered by the program at that point, with almost half occupied by renters.
The Owners Corporation still needs to meet the program requirements and arrange the project, but participating rental households can share in the benefits of the solar installation.
What should an Owners Corporation ask before installing solar?
This is where we’d spend some time.
Don’t start with: “How many panels can we fit?”
Start with the building.
How many apartments want to participate? How is electricity currently metered? How much usable roof space is available? How will the generated solar be allocated? Does the main switchboard need upgrading? Are there export constraints? Are there ongoing service charges for a solar-sharing system? Who maintains the system? How will participating households monitor performance?
Solar Victoria recommends getting at least three comparable quotes from authorised solar retailers and comparing the system, price, quality, warranties and customer reviews.
The cheapest quote isn’t necessarily the simplest or best long-term solution for a shared building.
Is apartment solar worth looking at in Victoria?
If you’ve dismissed solar in the past simply because you live in an apartment, it’s worth having another look.
The September changes mean more properties may be able to participate, and rebates of up to $2,800 per apartment can materially change the upfront cost.
That doesn’t mean solar will make sense for every building.
Roof space, shading, metering, network constraints, resident participation, Owners Corporation approval and the design of the system all matter.
But apartment living no longer automatically means missing out on rooftop solar.
And that’s a pretty significant change.
Thinking about solar for your apartment building?
If you’re part of an Owners Corporation, manage an apartment building or simply want to understand whether solar could work for your property, start with the building rather than the panels.
The Limitless Energy Solutions team can look at the property, understand what you’re working with and help determine what a practical system could look like.
And if it doesn’t make sense for your building, we’d rather tell you that too.
Talk to the Limitless Energy Solutions team about solar for your apartment building.
FAQ
Can you install solar on an apartment in Victoria?
Yes. Eligible apartment buildings, strata townhouses and units may be able to install rooftop solar through direct-connected or solar-sharing systems, subject to the building, metering, Owners Corporation approval and program requirements.
How much is the Victorian Solar for Apartments rebate?
The current program offers up to $2,800 per eligible apartment, capped at $140,000 per eligible property.
Are larger apartment buildings eligible?
The standard criteria include an eight-storey limit, but buildings that exceed that limit, or have between 50 and 150 lots, can now apply for an exemption if the other eligibility requirements are met.
Do I need Owners Corporation approval for apartment solar?
For the Solar for Apartments program, the Owners Corporation is part of the application and quote approval process.
Can renters benefit from apartment solar?
Yes. Solar Victoria has reported significant renter participation in the program. The building and Owners Corporation still need to satisfy the program requirements.
