The assignment form is the homeowner’s legal statement that they are handing their right to the STCs to someone else, for a system that has been installed. The statement matters, and so does the order it is signed in.
What the signature means
When an owner signs the STC assignment form they are declaring the details are correct: the system, the address and the assignment. If no system was installed, or it was installed later, the form was inaccurate. See the explanation in the STC assignment form guide.
Homeowner exposure
Penalties under the scheme follow knowledge and intent. In general terms:
- A homeowner who was misled, for example told it was a quote or an enquiry, is in a very different position from one who knowingly took part.
- Knowingly signing for a system that was never installed, or allowing someone to claim certificates on their property for a payment, can be treated as fraud and may lead to enforcement action by the Clean Energy Regulator or state authorities.
- Homeowners may also lose their own ability to claim if certificates have already been created for the address. See STCs already claimed on this house.
None of this is legal advice. If you are in this position, speak to a lawyer or a community legal centre.
What installers and retailers must not do
- Ask a customer to sign before the system is installed and commissioned.
- Accept a form signed for a system that has not been installed, “to get ahead”.
- Pay customers for the use of their address or details.
- Create certificates for a property the system is not on.
The installer, retailer and agent bear the larger duty because they know the rules and prepare the claim. See who is responsible and avoiding STC fraud as an installer.
What this means for installers and homeowners
Installers: never trade on a form you doubt. Customers who describe pressure to sign early are a warning sign. Homeowners: do not sign a blank form, read what is being assigned, and keep a copy. If you see certificates claimed on your property that you did not authorise, report it.
For related reading, see STC scams in solar, assigning STCs to a third party and the pillar on STC trading. A compliance pre-check, as described on how it works, reviews forms for signature and date problems before lodgement.
Warning signs for homeowners
Be wary of anyone offering cash for your roof details, asking you to sign forms before work starts, or saying a system will be installed later but the paperwork is needed now. Legitimate businesses install first, then ask you to sign. If a company will not give you a copy of what you signed, walk away and report it.