Solar for All – Including Apartment Dwellers
Updated February 29, 2024
By Morgan Pierce
If you are one of the 239,000 Irish households currently living in an apartment, there’s good news. If you’re looking around at neighbours busily putting up solar panels and feeling a bit of “green envy” take note – installing solar on an apartment building is possible. With government incentives, it can be a cost-saving option for tenants and a sound investment for landlords.
Many people choose apartment living for its convenience – somebody else cleans the common areas, maintains the garden, and deals with other maintenance issues. Apartments can also be more efficient users of energy, so sometimes costs are lower.
In exchange for those positives, however, apartment owners and renters lose autonomy and control over some key decisions. In the case of solar, they simply don’t own the roof over their heads. That can make the process of going solar appear tricky.
There are, though, a number of creative workarounds.
Since October of 2022, solar panels can be installed on the rooftops of most buildings in Ireland – including apartments, offices and other tenanted buildings – without the need for planning permission. Aside from private homes, buildings that qualify for exemptions in relation to the installation of solar panels include industrial buildings, business premises, and apartments.
Since many of these are not “owner-occupied”, landlords, tenants and building owners need to be aware of the potential legal and practical implications of installing solar.
For many apartment dwellers, the title to the roof space required for installing solar will be held by the Owners Management Company (OMC) and their approval and authority will be required. Tenants and apartment owners will in most cases need to negotiate.
A recent independent report by the Climate Council concluded that the “successful extension of solar PV policy to tenants, apartment building residents, low-income households, local authority housing and to larger installations on public and commercial infrastructure has the potential to reshape Ireland’s energy landscape”.
The Council recommends that Irish policymakers follow the example set by other European Union members, specifically by:
- making special arrangements for shared solar in apartment buildings
- and increasing landlord investment incentives
Solar panels for apartment tenants – how does it work?
In some buildings, owners have opted to install solar simply to meet the electricity needs of common areas. Since these tend to be pretty low-usage zones – powering only LED lights, lifts, gates or other security items – tenants may see little or no impact.
Technological advances also mean it will soon be possible for all the individual units in a building to be connected to the same solar array and equitably share the energy produced.
Until then, apartment dwellers who want to transition away from fossil fuel use in their own homes will need to work with their building’s Owner Management Company and address any concerns raised by fellow tenants.
This may sound daunting, but your neighbours – even your OMC – are listening to the same news bulletins about the climate crisis that you are. In many cases, you’re likely to find allies who support the same environmental goals you do.
Working together you can mitigate concerns and ward off any future problems. Questions you should be prepared to address include access, safe installation, possible damage to the roof, and aesthetic appeal. If you’re a tenant taking the lead on pitching this idea to your OMC and neighbours, be prepared – and have an initial consultation with a reliable registered Irish installer.
And – depending on your own building’s ownership structure and the way its energy is supplied and metered – either you as the homeowner, the OMC or the landlord should be eligible for grant aid from the SEAI.
Solar panels for landlords – what are the benefits?
Landlords may feel they have little incentive to invest in solar energy systems or other renewable energy technologies, because as a rule, they don’t pay the energy bills. On that basis, some might argue that the grant to landlords for installing solar should be higher than for ordinary homeowners.
But even with the current rate of grant aid, it’s already possible for landlords to see significant benefits from investing in solar. A BER (Building Energy Rating) assesses a property’s energy performance. Solar panels can significantly reduce a building’s reliance on traditional energy sources and this reduction will usually lead to an improved BER rating, as the property becomes more energy-efficient. A higher BER rating also has many benefits for landlords:
- Attracting Tenants: Renters are increasingly aware of energy costs and prefer properties with better BER ratings. This can help attract tenants and potentially achieve higher rental income.
- Increased Property Value: Energy-efficient properties are generally more desirable, which can increase the overall value of your rental property.
- Compliance: There may be future regulations or minimum BER requirements for rental properties in Ireland. Improving your BER rating now future-proofs your investment.
Studies show that energy-efficient properties sell faster, and are in greater demand. “Ecological appeal” is likely to be a more significant factor year on year as environmental awareness increases among consumers.
Solar helps to combat climate change by reducing your properties’ greenhouse gas emissions. That’s good for the planet – and attracts tenants who are willing to pay a premium to live more sustainably.
Depending on how much energy their solar panels produce, landlords may also be able to sell any excess back to the National Grid, further offsetting the initial installation outlay.
Beyond any financial consideration, going solar “is a forward-thinking choice for landlords.” In the words of one blog for property owners: “By embracing solar energy, landlords can pave the way for a sustainable and energy-efficient future while reaping the rewards of a wise long-term investment.
Investing in solar panel systems can bring many benefits, including reduced energy bills, increased energy independence, and a reduced carbon footprint. If you are interested in installing a solar panel system, it is also worth exploring the different grant options available and seeking professional advice from one of our solar energy advisors.
Feel free to contact us for more information, we’re here to help.