If You Own a Rental Property in Queensland, There’s Up to $3,500 on the Table Right Now
Most landlords in Queensland have heard about solar, but very few know the government is currently offering them up to $3,500 in cash to install it on a rental property. No means testing. No income limits. Just a rebate, paid directly to you, once the system is installed.
It is called the Supercharged Solar for Renters program, it opened on 12 December 2025, and it is one of the most straightforward property incentives the Queensland Government has ever put on the table.
Here is everything you need to know, including the one rule that catches landlords out before they even get started.
What Is the Supercharged Solar for Renters Program?
The Supercharged Solar for Renters program assists with tackling the cost of living by providing eligible landlords with rebates of up to $3,500 to install solar photovoltaic systems on their rental properties across Queensland. CommBank
The program is administered by QRIDA (the Queensland Rural and Industry Development Authority) and is backed by $26.3 million in funding, with around 6,500 renting households expected to save approximately $700 a year on their power bills. Deloitte
It was designed to solve a problem the solar industry has always known about: landlords pay the upfront cost of a solar system, but tenants get most of the bill savings. This “split incentive” has kept solar off the vast majority of Queensland rental properties for years. The rebate is the government’s way of bridging that gap and giving landlords a genuine financial reason to act.
What’s In It for You as a Landlord?
Beyond the rebate itself, a solar system can make rental properties more appealing to prospective tenants, increase property value, and provide a point of difference in the rental market. EY
In the current Queensland rental climate, where good tenants are selective about where they live, a solar-powered home is a tangible advantage. Prospective tenants increasingly ask about energy efficiency before signing a lease. A solar system is something you can advertise from day one.
On top of the Queensland rebate, your system also generates Small-scale Technology Certificates (STCs) under the federal government’s Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme, applied as an upfront discount on your quote by your installer. That means the total value of incentives stacking on a typical 6.6kW system can be well above the $3,500 rebate alone.
And if you own multiple rented properties, you can apply separately for rebates for up to 3 properties, with each application for a different street address.
The One Rule That Catches Landlords Out
This is critical, and it trips people up every week.
You cannot install the system before you receive conditional approval. If you do, you will not be paid.
The landlord must apply for and receive a conditional approval letter before purchasing or installing the system. The goal is simple: landlords get financial help to improve their assets, and tenants get reduced electricity bills during a cost-of-living crisis. RSM
Applying for the rebate is a 2-stage process: conditional approval and then final approval. Conditional approval applications must include a quote for the solar system, dated after the program opening date of 12 December 2025. The Conversation
The process is not complicated, but the order of operations matters. Get the quote, apply for conditional approval, wait for the letter, then install. Skipping ahead costs you the rebate entirely.
Is Your Property Eligible?
The property must:
- Be located in Queensland
- Be a Class 1a building (a house, duplex, or townhouse) or a secondary dwelling to a Class 1a building, such as a granny flat CommBank
- Be currently rented out with an existing tenancy agreement
- Have a rent of $1,000 per week or less Wikipedia
- Have no existing solar system installed
- Not be part of an embedded network (such as a strata complex)
The landlord must:
- Be an Australian resident who personally owns the rental property
- Not hold the property in the name of a trust, self-managed super fund or other entity, because the property must be owned by an individual CommBank
The lease must:
- Be a fixed-term tenancy agreement with at least 8 months remaining at the time of final approval Lenergy
Apartments are not eligible. Apartments or units constructed above or below another unit are generally classified as Class 2 buildings and are not eligible. Houses, townhouses, duplexes and granny flats are.
What Does the Solar System Need to Look Like?
The solar system must have a capacity of at least 3 kilowatts (kW), and only the first 5kW of capacity qualifies for the renters rebate Energy Matters, though you can install a larger system if you wish.
The system must also:
- Use panels and inverters listed on the Clean Energy Council approved products list
- Include a generation signalling device (GSD)
- Be designed by an SAA-accredited system designer
- Be installed by a licensed Queensland electrical contractor with SAA accreditation
Clean Power Australia meets all of these requirements. We are fully accredited and operate across Queensland, including Brisbane, the Gold Coast, and Burleigh Heads.
What Do Your Tenants Need to Do?
Your tenants need to consent. Tenants must complete and sign a tenant acknowledgement and consent form, which must be uploaded with your application through QRIDA. It is a key part of the program that tenants are fully on board with having a new solar system installed and understand how the system will benefit them. Commodore Australia
In practice, most tenants are enthusiastic: a solar system means lower electricity bills for them from day one. This is rarely a sticking point.
The Full Stack: What This Looks Like in Real Numbers
A 6.6kW solar system on a Queensland rental property, installed through Clean Power Australia, could look something like this:
| Incentive | Approximate Value |
|---|---|
| QLD Supercharged Solar for Renters rebate | Up to $3,500 |
| Federal STC scheme (instant discount at point of sale) | $2,500 – $3,500 |
| Total incentive value | $6,000 – $7,000+ |
| Tenant electricity savings | ~$700/year |
| Increased property appeal and value | Ongoing |
The system itself typically costs $4,000 – $6,500 fully installed for a 6.6kW system after incentives, making payback through property value and reduced vacancy alone very compelling, before even counting the goodwill of tenants who are saving on power every quarter.
This Program Has a Finite Number of Places
The $26.3 million program is expected to help about 6,500 households. The ABJ Once those places are filled, the program closes. There is no guarantee of an extension, and the Queensland Government has not indicated how long the funding will last beyond the initial allocation.
Queensland has over 900,000 homes with solar, but the vast majority are owner-occupied. Rental properties have been left behind for years. This program changes that, but only for as long as the funding holds.
If you own a rental property in Queensland, there has never been a better time to act. The rebate is live, the process is straightforward, and Clean Power Australia can handle everything from quote to installation.
✅ Up to $3,500 cash rebate paid directly to you
✅ Additional STC discount applied at point of sale
✅ Can apply for up to 3 investment properties
✅ Tenants save ~$700 per year on electricity
✅ Solar increases property appeal and long-term value
✅ Clean Power Australia is fully accredited and operating across Queensland
