Queensland solar program aims to reduce power bills for renters

ABC NEWS (Australia)

The Queensland government is set to roll out a rebate program to subsidise solar panels on rental properties. Grants of more than $3,000 will be on offer for approved landlords, but there are concerns the program could drive-up rents.

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00:00Audrey Sertois rents in a share house in Kelvin Grove.

00:06She'd love to have rooftop solar to help drive down her power bills.

00:12If you look at my power bill, about two-thirds of it is hot water.

00:15Miss Sertois is hoping to benefit from a state government scheme that will offer grants up

00:21to $3,500 for landlords to install solar panels on a rental property.

00:29The $26 million program could save renters as much as $700 a year.

00:35And right now, we're working on the program, we'll roll it out by the end of the year,

00:40and I think there's a real opportunity for renters to receive a cost of living benefit.

00:46A similar program ran in Queensland in 2019, which involved tenants agreeing to a rent

00:53increase of about $10 a week, given the electricity savings.

00:59How this rebate scheme will work is still being discussed.

01:03I would find it very dishonest, actually, for landlords to get a rebate and a rent increase

01:12on top of all the rent increases they've already had.

01:15I want to make sure that we're doing everything possible as a new government to put downward

01:20pressure on rents.

01:21Property, tenant and conservation groups largely support the program as a win-win for tenants

01:28and landlords, but say the scheme will need to have safeguards and well-thought-out controls

01:34on who can apply.

01:36Certain criteria around the property remaining on the permanent rental market for a certain

01:41number of years.

01:43Some of the program design needs to be transparent, needs to improve agency, and there needs to

01:47be rental protections.

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