Not-for-profit community housing organisations (CHO) can apply for a rebate of up to $1400 per tenancy on behalf of their renters to install solar panels (PV) on the properties they manage. This will help reduce cost of living pressures for low-income Victorians.
Check if your organisation is eligible
A not-for-profit organisation that provides affordable rental housing to low-income households is eligible to receive a solar panel (PV) rebate if it:
- is a Registered CHO listed on the Housing Registrar Public Register as a community housing provider; OR
- is registered with the Australian Charities and Not-for-Profits Commission; and
- can demonstrate that the provision of affordable housing is one of the organisation’s core activities
- has properties that are owned or managed by the community housing organisation
- confirms that the full value (100%) of energy savings achieved by installing solar panels will be passed onto renters
- engages an authorised solar retailer who must use products on our product lists.
Understand rebate requirements
Calculating the rebate amount
We will fund up to $1,400 or a maximum of 50 per cent of the costs of the solar panel (PV) installation per individual residential rental agreement. For example, if the net costs of the installation are $2,000, the rebate value applied is $1,000 (not $1,400).
Buildings that are eligible
The solar panel (PV) system must be installed on an existing residential dwelling. This includes free standing homes, multi-unit dwellings and apartments. New buildings under construction or communal living spaces are not eligible under this program.
Application approval and rebate payments
The retailer will apply the rebate amount at point of sale on the tax invoice once the application is approved. Please do not install or make payments to your retailer until Solar Victoria approves your application.
What you need to apply
Set up ‘multi-factor authentication’
To be set up to start an application for your community housing organisation, you first need to install ‘multi-factor authentication’ or ‘MFA’ app on your mobile device. For information and instructions, visit Salesforce Authenticator.
Documentation
To start an application, you will also need to provide documentation for properties that are owned and managed.
For CHOs listed on the Housing Registrar Public Register:
| Property status | Documents required |
|---|---|
| Owned |
Letter of support for CHO owned properties
(opens in a new window)
|
| Managed |
Letter of support from property owner for CHO managed properties
(opens in a new window)
|
For CHOs not listed on the Housing Registrar Public Register:
| Property status | Documents required |
|---|---|
| Owned |
Letter of support for CHO owned properties
(opens in a new window)
AND |
| Managed |
Letter of support from property owner for CHO managed properties
(opens in a new window)
AND |
How to apply
Follow this step-by-step process to apply for the solar panel (PV) rebate through the Solar Victoria Platform.
Step 1
If your organisation meets the eligibility criteria, email us a letter of support using this template wording on your organisation’s official letterhead to to CHO@team.solar.vic.gov.au.
Step 2
We will check your organisation’s eligibility. If eligible, we will invite you to register on the Solar Victoria Platform.
When you have registered, you can set up your profile, add contacts and property details. You need to add properties that you’re applying for so an authorised solar retailer can connect them to a quote.
Step 3
Get a quote from an authorised solar retailer. They will upload your quote to the Platform.
You can apply for up to 50 properties per application and can submit multiple applications.
Step 4
Log in to the Platform to review your quote and start applying.
Resources
This guide steps you through how to add information about your properties, access quotes from retailers and manage your rebate applications.
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