Responsibility under the Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme is split across several people, and each carries their own part. The contract between them decides who pays for a failure. The law decides who is accountable.
Who owns what
| Party | Accountable for |
|---|---|
| Accredited installer (including subcontractors) | The installation meeting the standards, being on site as required, and the installer declaration |
| Solar retailer | The sale, accurate statements to the customer, and the retailer written statement for each system |
| Owner or their registered agent (the claimant) | The accuracy of the certificate creation and the evidence supporting it |
| Trader | Their own checks and what they accept, plus the terms of purchase |
Subcontracting
When a retailer engages a subcontract installer, the retailer still holds the customer relationship and the sale. The subcontractor still holds the installer accreditation and the installer declaration. If the job was not done as declared, both can be pursued, and the regulator tends to look at the whole chain. See subcontractor rates for how the commercial side is usually set up.
Practical points when you subcontract:
- Check accreditation numbers before the job, not after. See checking an accreditation number.
- Agree in writing who supplies photos and by when.
- Do not allow a person who was not on site to be named as the installer.
False claims
An installer who signs off work they did not carry out or supervise, or who supplies photos that were not taken at the job, can be liable for a false or misleading declaration. Consequences range from loss of accreditation to enforcement action, depending on the facts. Read installer attendance requirements.
Who pays when a claim fails
Separate from liability is money. If STCs are invalidated after payment, the trader may recover from the seller under the contract. See STC clawback and who is responsible for a failed STC audit.
What this means for installers
If you work as a subcontractor, keep your own evidence copies of every job. If you are a retailer, only engage installers whose records you have checked. In both cases, choose a trader whose terms are clear about recourse, using the choosing a certificate trader checklist.
For how retailers fit in, read retailer responsibilities and written statements. Pillar: STC trading. Our compliance pre-check reviews every claim before lodgement.
A short checklist for subcontract arrangements
Before the first job, confirm accreditation, insurance and the right to work on the system type. In the agreement, state who supplies photos, who signs declarations, who is paid on a failed claim and who rectifies defects. After each job, collect the evidence copies and keep them. When these four items are written down, most disagreements never reach a regulator.