Buying solar for a townhouse or duplex means sorting out who owns the roof, which section you can use, how your meter is connected and what neighbours and approvals are involved. Here is a practical checklist. You can usually put solar on a townhouse or duplex, but before you compare quotes you need clear answers to three questions: who owns the roof, which part of it you are entitled to use, and how your electricity supply and meter are arranged. The answers depend mostly on your title type. A strata townhouse normally needs the owners corporation's approval because the roof is usually common property, while a Torrens title duplex owner generally controls their own roof section but still shares a party wall, a roof line and often a gutter with the neighbour.
Start with the title
| Title type | Who usually owns the roof | Approval typically needed | Check first |
|---|---|---|---|
| Strata title (townhouse complexes and some duplexes) | The owners corporation, as common property, unless the strata plan says otherwise | Owners corporation approval, often with a by-law covering repairs, insurance and removal | The strata plan and existing by-laws |
| Torrens title duplex or semi-detached home | Each owner owns the roof over their own dwelling | Normal planning rules; no owners corporation | The boundary along the party wall, shared gutters and access |
| Community title (estates with shared facilities) | Usually the lot owner | Any design rules in the management statement | Architectural guidelines about visible roof equipment |
If you are not sure which applies, check your contract of sale or a title search, or ask your strata manager or conveyancer. Do not assume: in some strata schemes the roof over a lot is lot property, and in others it is not.
Roof sections and fair shares
In a townhouse complex a single roof often spans several dwellings. Even when solar is approved, the owners corporation may allocate roof area by lot so every owner who wants solar can have a fair section. On a duplex, the dividing line normally follows the party wall. Before you sign, make sure:
- The layout drawing shows your roof boundary and exactly where panels, rails and cabling will sit.
- Panels stay clear of the boundary so the neighbour's future array, access and roof maintenance are not blocked.
- Shading from the neighbour's roof sections, dormers, air-conditioning units and any planned second storey has been considered.
- Cabling runs through your own roof space and walls to your own meter box, never across the neighbour's section.
- If your section faces east and west, a split array across both planes has been considered; our guide to how many panels you need helps you judge what fits.
Separate meters, separate systems
Most townhouses and duplexes have a separate meter and electricity account for each dwelling, and a solar system connects behind one meter. Your system supplies only your dwelling, and exports are credited only to your account. One system cannot simply be split between two dwellings on separate meters. The usual options are:
| Arrangement | How it works | Suits |
|---|---|---|
| Two separate systems | Each dwelling has its own panels, inverter and network approval | Duplexes where both owners want solar |
| One owner installs now | The second owner adds a system later on their own section | Neighbours with different timing or budgets, if the layout leaves room |
| Shared solar on common property | Supplies common-area loads such as lighting, pumps and gates; sharing with individual units needs more complex arrangements | Larger strata complexes, after a feasibility study |
Meter boxes in townhouse complexes are sometimes grouped in one spot away from the dwellings, which means a longer cable run. Ask whether the quote includes it, and whether your switchboard has room for the extra protection devices. The market lists a Switchboard Upgrade from $1,490, indicative, for older boards that need replacing first.
Approvals and working with neighbours
For a strata townhouse, a typical sequence looks like this:
- Read the by-laws and ask the strata manager how applications are handled.
- Get a detailed quote with a layout, fixing method, equipment list and the installer's accreditation and public liability insurance.
- Submit a written proposal to the owners corporation, including a draft by-law covering maintenance, insurance, roof repairs around the array and eventual removal.
- Obtain approval at a general meeting before signing, or make any contract conditional on approval.
- Confirm whether council approval is needed for your building.
For a Torrens title duplex, talk to your neighbour well before installation. Scaffolding or roof access may need to cross their side, and installers need permission to enter their property. Show them the layout, explain the timing and agree how any gutter or roof issues on the shared line will be handled. For help judging each installer's paperwork, see our guide to choosing an installer. For owners corporations weighing requests from several lots, the market lists a Roof Solar Allocation Study from $990 and an Owners Corporation Proposal & Report from $990, both indicative.
Comparing quotes for an attached home
Attached homes raise costs and questions that a standard quote may skip. When you line quotes up side by side, check each one covers:
- Scaffolding or edge protection where access is narrow, such as terraces and townhouses with tight side passages.
- The full cable run to your meter box, especially where meters are grouped away from the dwelling.
- The network connection application for your own connection point.
- A compliant battery location, if a battery is included, since a garage or shared wall may carry extra requirements under the Australian Standard.
- Any access arrangements needed through a neighbour's property or common areas.
- Paperwork for the owners corporation, if it is required, and who prepares it.
If your neighbour also wants solar, it can make sense to install on the same day with the same installer, since scaffolding and set-up may be shared. Keep separate contracts, separate systems and separate warranties, so each owner stays responsible for their own equipment.
Next steps
Confirm your title type and read the by-laws or management statement, then talk to your neighbour or strata manager before collecting quotes. Indicative prices for systems, switchboard upgrades and strata reports are on the energy market page, with final prices confirmed after a site assessment. For a layout that respects your roof boundary and your meter arrangement, request a free assessment from Blue Energy Solar; their team inspects the roof and meter box in person before quoting.
Frequently asked questions
Can I sell my solar exports to the neighbour next door?
Not in a simple way. On separate meters, your exports flow into the grid and your retailer pays the feed-in tariff. Selling electricity directly to a neighbour involves regulated arrangements that are not practical for most households. If you and your neighbour both want solar, two separate systems, each sized for its own dwelling, are usually the straightforward answer.
What happens to my panels if the shared roof needs replacing?
The panels would need to be removed and reinstalled by an accredited installer, which adds cost to the roof work. For strata properties, the by-law should say who pays for this. For duplexes, agree it with your neighbour in writing. Either way, have the roof condition checked before you install, since fixing problems first is far cheaper than lifting an array later.
Does each dwelling get its own STC discount?
Yes. STCs are created for each eligible system installed by an accredited installer, so two separate systems each attract their own discount based on size, location and installation date. For a typical 6.6 kW system installed in 2026 that is roughly $1,700-$1,800. The value steps down each 1 January, so confirm current figures on the Clean Energy Regulator website before signing.
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