Landlords, tenants and investors all ask the same thing: if I am not living there, who gets the STCs? The rule is simple. STCs belong to whoever owns the solar system at the time of installation, and ownership usually follows the property.
Landlord and investment property
A landlord who installs solar on a rental, or an investor with a property managed by an agent, owns the system and signs the assignment. Nothing about the formula changes because the owner is not resident. STCs = kW x zone rating x deeming years, with 5 years for 2026 installs. A 6.6 kW system in zone 3 creates 6.6 x 1.382 x 5 = 45 STCs, worth about $1,700 to $1,800 at spot of roughly $38 to $40 at the time of writing. See the STC calculator.
Investors also need to think about whether the tenant benefits from the power, who pays for the system and how that is reflected in rent. That is a commercial decision and outside STC rules.
Tenant solar
A tenant can only install solar with the landlord’s consent, which should be in writing and should say who owns the panels, who is responsible for removal at the end of the lease, and who signs the STC assignment. If the tenant owns the system, the tenant is the owner for STC purposes. If it is unclear, the claim can stall because the signature does not match the owner of the system.
Tenants sometimes pay for a system, then move out. If they take the panels with them, ownership matters again; see what happens when you move house.
Batteries in rentals
The same ownership logic applies to batteries. Landlords can claim under the Cheaper Home Batteries Program as the owner; see landlord battery claims and renters and the battery rebate.
Authority to sign
For owners that use a property manager or a company, the form must be signed by someone with authority. A trust or company owner needs the correct legal name and ABN. A deceased estate or joint owners add further wrinkles, so collect all names before install.
What this means for installers
On a rental job, ask the question up front: who owns the system once it is installed? Get the owner’s contact details, not just the tenant’s, and get the landlord’s consent in writing if the tenant is the one you are dealing with. The assignment form guide shows what must be completed.
For the market side, see STC trading and how it works.