Key points
- Victorian landlords can claim a solar rebate of up to $1,400 per rental property, plus an optional interest-free loan of up to $1,400, on up to two properties each financial year.
- From 1 July 2026 the renters’ combined household taxable income must be under $150,000. The property must be worth under $3 million.
- The landlord and every renter must sign a Solar Homes agreement. Renters can choose to pay up to 50% of the loan repayment, a maximum of $14.58 a month.
- Landlords can’t raise the rent or take money from the bond to recover the installation cost.
- Federal STCs (about $1,550 off a 6.6kW system in Melbourne) apply on top.
Victoria still has a solar rebate for rental property owners in 2026. Solar Victoria’s Solar for Rentals stream gives eligible landlords up to $1,400 off a solar panel system. An equal interest-free loan can cut the upfront cost by up to $2,800. The catch is that eligibility depends on your renters’ income, not yours, and you need a signed agreement with them. This guide covers the rental stream only. For owner-occupiers, see our Victoria solar rebates 2026 guide.
How much is the solar rebate for rental property in Victoria?
As of October 2026, Solar Victoria offers rental providers:
- a rebate of up to $1,400 for a solar panel (PV) system
- an optional interest-free loan equal to the rebate (up to $1,400), repaid over four years at about $29.17 a month
- up to two rental rebates per financial year, with one application per address
The rebate amount didn’t change on 1 July 2026, but the income cap did. The federal STC discount comes off the price as well, because STCs apply to any eligible system whoever owns it. Our guide to the STC solar rebate shows the calculation. This post is part of our complete guide to solar and battery rebates in SA and Victoria.
Who is eligible for the rental solar rebate?
| Requirement | Rule (as of October 2026) |
|---|---|
| Renter income | Renters’ combined household taxable income under $150,000 a year (from either of the last two years’ tax returns) |
| Property value | Under $3 million |
| Ownership | Owners must be individuals named on the council rates notice. Trusts, super funds and businesses are not eligible |
| Existing solar | The property must not already have solar panels installed |
| Previous rebates | No previous Solar Homes solar PV or battery rebate at the address (some exceptions apply) |
| Limit | Maximum two rental rebates per financial year |
| Agreement | Solar Homes rental provider–renter agreement signed by you and all renters |
| Retailer and products | Solar Victoria authorised retailer and eligible products |
The ownership rule catches many investors. If your rates notice shows a family trust, a self-managed super fund or a company, the property can’t get the rebate. You can still claim STCs and install solar at full price.
How does the landlord–renter agreement work?
Solar Victoria publishes two template agreements: one where the renter pays nothing, and one with a renter co-payment. You combine the signed agreement with the residential tenancy agreement and upload it with your application. The renter agrees to:
- allow access for the quote, installation, inspection and maintenance
- be present when installation starts if the installer needs to come inside
- provide proof of household income for your application
In return, you must arrange and pay for the grid connection. You must also tell the renter in writing when the system is commissioned. Renters can get access to the solar monitoring app, so they can see how much power they’re generating.
Optional renter co-contribution
If you take the interest-free loan, renters can agree to pay part of each monthly repayment, up to 50%. On a $1,400 loan the options look like this:
| Renter share of repayment | Renter pays per month | Landlord pays per month |
|---|---|---|
| 0% | $0 | $29.17 |
| 15% | $4.38 | $24.79 |
| 25% | $7.29 | $21.88 |
| 50% (maximum) | $14.58 | $14.59 |
The amount is fixed when the loan starts. It runs for the four-year loan term or until the renter moves out, whichever comes first. New renters can’t be added to the arrangement. The landlord stays legally responsible for the whole loan. Solar Victoria is clear that you cannot increase the rent because of the installation, or take installation costs from the bond.
Tip: A small renter contribution, such as 15% or 25%, is easier to agree on and still shows the renter has a stake. If either side doesn’t keep to the agreement, the Dispute Settlement Centre of Victoria offers free advice and mediation.
Worked example: a 6.6kW system on a Melbourne rental
Solar Choice’s March 2026 index put typical Melbourne prices at about $5,600 for 6kW and $6,300 for 7kW, after STCs. So assume a good-quality 6.6kW system costs $6,000 after STCs. Your quotes will vary.
- Price after STCs: $6,000
- Less Solar Homes rental rebate: −$1,400 = $4,600
- Less interest-free loan: −$1,400 = $3,200 paid upfront
- Loan repayments: $29.17 a month for 48 months, or $14.59 if the renter pays the maximum share
For the renter, a 6.6kW system in Melbourne generates roughly 24–25 kWh on an average day. Say the household uses about 30% of that directly, around 7.5 kWh a day, at about 30c/kWh. That saves roughly $800 a year before any feed-in credit. Results depend on the household’s daytime usage and tariff. Since 1 October 2026, the opt-in Midday Power Saver offer also gives free power from 11am to 2pm, which changes the maths for some renters.
Your installer will size the system to the roof and the household’s usage. Our 6.6kW solar package is the most common choice for Melbourne rentals.
What does a landlord get out of it?
The renter gets the bill savings, so the landlord’s return is indirect:
- A more attractive property. Lower bills help you attract good renters and keep them longer.
- Property value. Solar is a permanent fixture that buyers increasingly expect.
- Tax. Solar on an income-producing property may be depreciable. Ask your accountant how the rebate affects what you can claim.
- Getting ahead of the rental standards. New minimum energy efficiency standards start on 1 March 2027.
Under those standards, when a rental’s hot water system fails beyond repair, it must be replaced with an efficient heat pump or an electric-boosted solar water heater. At the start of a new lease, ceilings with no insulation must be insulated to at least R5.0. Rooftop solar isn’t mandatory, but a heat pump running on midday solar is one of the cheapest ways to meet the hot water rule. See what the 2027 gas hot water rules mean for the details.
Batteries, hot water and other upgrades at a rental
Solar Victoria no longer offers its battery loan, and there’s no state battery rebate. A landlord can still claim the federal Cheaper Home Batteries discount on an eligible battery. See how the federal battery discount works in Victoria.
Solar Victoria has temporarily opened its hot water rebate to rental providers as well. Victorian Energy Upgrades (VEU) discounts apply to rented homes too, including heat pump hot water, reverse-cycle heating and ceiling insulation. Our Victorian Energy Upgrades 2026 guide lists the current activities. Check each program’s eligibility before you combine them.
How to apply as a rental provider
- Talk to your renter and agree whether they will contribute.
- Get a written quote from a Solar Victoria authorised retailer using eligible products. The retailer uploads it to the Solar Victoria portal.
- Get network pre-approval. Your retailer applies to the distributor to connect and export.
- Sign the agreement with all renters and combine it with the tenancy agreement.
- Apply online with ID, your rates notice, the renters’ proof of income and, for the loan, a credit report.
- Receive your QR code and give it to the retailer. The installer scans it on site before work starts.
- Install within 120 days and pay the retailer the price minus the rebate.
- Start loan repayments once the system is commissioned, if you took the loan.
For apartment buildings, the separate Solar for Apartments program offers up to $2,800 per household for shared systems on strata buildings.
Frequently asked questions
Can a landlord increase the rent to pay for solar in Victoria?
No. Under the Solar Homes rental provider–renter agreement, a landlord cannot increase the rent as a direct result of installing the solar system or take installation costs from the bond. The landlord remains fully liable for the interest-free loan, even if the renter agreed to contribute to repayments.
Is eligibility based on the landlord’s income or the renter’s income?
The renters’ income. From 1 July 2026, the renters’ combined household taxable income must be under $150,000 a year, based on either of the last two years’ tax returns. The landlord must also be an individual owner named on the rates notice, and the property must be worth under $3 million.
What happens to the renter’s contribution when they move out?
It stops. The agreement ends when the renter vacates, and new renters can’t be added to the loan repayment arrangement. The landlord pays the remaining monthly repayments until the four-year interest-free loan is cleared.
Can I claim the rental rebate if my property is owned by a trust?
No. Solar Victoria requires the owners listed on the council rates notice to be individuals. If the notice shows a family trust, a self-managed super fund or a business, the property isn’t eligible. You can still claim the federal STC discount on an eligible system.
Our Melbourne team works from Wollert and installs solar on rental properties across the city’s suburbs. For local prices and installation advice, see our Melbourne solar and battery guide, or get a free quote for your rental.
Sources: Solar Victoria – Solar rebates for rental properties (updated 7 Jul 2026); Solar Victoria – FAQs: Solar for rental properties; Solar Victoria – Solar Homes Program continuing to provide targeted assistance (29 May 2026); Consumer Affairs Victoria – New minimum energy efficiency standards (updated 18 Aug 2026); Solar Victoria – Solar battery loan (updated 16 Apr 2026). Rebate rules change; check Solar Victoria’s website before applying and get tax advice from your accountant. Featured image: Kgbo / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.
