The Western Australian government will legalise the use of plug-in solar panels and household batteries in apartments and rental properties, the state has announced.
The measure covers small, plug-and-play photovoltaic systems and battery units that do not require permanent rooftop mounting or electrical rewiring, allowing residents to bring their own equipment and connect at sockets or via simple plug-in interfaces.
The change is aimed at people who live in multi-unit developments or rental homes where fixed rooftop solar or hard-wired battery installations are impractical or not permitted under existing arrangements.
Strata schemes, property managers and landlords will be directly affected because the new rules will alter which types of solar and storage can be installed without major building works or complex approvals.
Industry participants such as solar retailers, battery suppliers and installers are likely to see new demand from apartment buildings and renters as plug-in solutions become explicitly permitted under state law.
For renters, the move removes a legal obstacle to accessing behind-the-meter technology, although tenancy agreements and landlord approval will still be relevant for who supplies and maintains equipment and for liability arrangements.
The government’s decision will require updates to building and electrical safety standards, and it may prompt changes to strata bylaws and property management practices to accommodate plug-in devices in shared dwellings.
Consumers considering plug-in systems should check their tenancy or ownership agreements and seek advice on safety and warranty issues, including whether installations affect insurance or compliance with local building requirements.
The rollout timing and the detailed regulatory framework will determine how quickly apartment residents and renters can adopt plug-in solar and batteries, and how suppliers and property managers adapt to the new rules.
Property owners, tenants and industry stakeholders will need to monitor further guidance from the state on implementation, technical standards and any notification or approval processes that apply under the updated rules.
