Win over your owners corporation and live more sustainably

Approval and installation for solar

• On private property

  If you own the apartment and the panel or inverter will be installed on private property, you do not need any consent from the Owners Corporation unless the installation affects common property such as encroachment or drilling. 

  However, you will need to obtain a planning permit from Council.

  Once you have checked the installation and obtained a permit, you can choose your Solar Installer. Ask the Installer the location and method of installation:

  • Will the Panel be drilled into or clipped onto the roof?
  • Where will the Inverter be installed?

  If panel or inverter will be partly installed on the common property, you must obtain the Owners Corporation’s permission before installation. Permission cannot be
  unreasonably be withheld.

  Once permission has been given, you can instruct your installer to proceed with the Solar installation.

• On common property

  If the panel and inverter will be installed on common property, you must request the Owers Corporation grant you a lease or licence over the common property. This will permit you to install the solar panel and inverter.

  You can seek the Owners Corporation's permission by sending them a letter. Make sure the information about the panel and inverter are included in the letter.

  To successfully seek permission, the Owners Corporation must pass a special resolution in one of the following ways: 

  • achieve 75 per cent favourable votes at a general meeting or by ballot - this will immediately grant the lease
  • achieve 50 per cent favourable votes at a general meeting or by ballot, and not more than 25 per cent unfavourable votes - lease is granted 29 days after the meeting or ballot closes.

  If the lease is granted, hire a solicitor to prepare a lease or licence on your behalf. The parties to the lease or licence are yourself and the Owners Corporation. All parties must sign the lease.

  Once signed, you can instruct the installer to proceed.

• On a place I rent

  Many residents and businesses are successfully negotiating with their landlords to install solar panels. There are some great examples of landlords and tenants sharing the costs of installation and the benefits from energy savings.

  The most common mistake made by tenants is not seeking permission from their landlord early in the process. If the City of Port Phillip is your landlord, your building may have already been assessed for solar or energy efficiency works.

   

• On a heritage building

  A Heritage Overlay does not necessarily prevent you from installing rooftop Solar Panels. A Planning Permit is required if the panels are visible from the street (other than a lane) or a park.

  However, Council will waive the permit fees and will process the application efficiently through the VicSmart service, which minimises the paperwork requirements and processing time.

  A Planning Officer will assess your application and, together with advice from Council’s Heritage Advisor, may suggest changes to the sizing or placement of the proposed system.

  Please contact our Property Department before engaging with any solar program:

  Email: helpdeskproperty@portphillip.vic.gov.au
  Phone: 03 9209 6777